A Context-Driven Framework for Selecting Mental Model Elicitation Methods

Mental models describe an internal representation of knowledge of an individual or group, which can be used to interpret interactions with their environment and provide insight into decision-making strategies and prediction of performance. There are several ways to elicit mental models and analyze them; however, there is little guidance for selecting an appropriate elicitation method. Depending on different constraints of research and desired outcomes, different elicitation methods are more appropriate than others. Three criteria were identified as useful for selecting an appropriate elicitation method. These were the interaction level with participants, the number of participants being evaluated, and the resulting level of analytical detail that is required. A process for selecting the most appropriate mental model elicitation method is herein presented. Additionally, an overview of the factors that affect the selection of the mental models, and the different types of mental models are also presented.