Finding paths or getting lost? : Examining the mental model construct and mental model methodology

Sammanfattning: Mental models have been a popular concept for more than 30 years and used to explain many phenomena of human life – from logical reasoning and problem-solving to narrative comprehension and the understanding of complex dynamic systems. As such, the mental model has been studied with a great variety of techniques, from the cognitive interview and verbal protocol analysis to observations and computer-based network algorithms. However, while the concept has a keen interest, there exists no consensus on what a mental model is. Nor what methods to use when studying them. Instead, most researchers have used their own vague, and often intuitive, descriptions of the construct, resulting in an abundance of incomplete and incompatible concepts that have been studied without many methodological considerations. This thesis aims to examine the mental model concept, and provide a working definition by describing associated functions, characteristics and nature. Moreover, a new methodological framework is developed and used as means to highlight mental model methodological issues. Lastly, given the lack of mental model methodological issues in research, the Pathfinder technique is validated as a starting point of this important field of study. Among the results, it is concluded that the Pathfinder technique is not valid. Consequently, researchers should be wary of Pathfinder technique’s limited use in complex domains, such as information security.