Situation Models: An Avenue to the Modeling of Mental Models

Abstract

The concept of a mental model is well ensconced in the human factors literature. Mental models are used to explain a wide variety of human behavior and designers are directed to design to fit the mental model of the user. Its real utility in practical application remains beyond our grasp, however, due to significant difficulties in creating usable representations of these mental models that can provide descriptive arid predictive capabilities. This paper explores the concept of mental models and a highly related concept, the situation model. Through the situation model, a method for abstracting user knowledge and creating usable models of their mental model is explored. This technique shows promise as a means of more effectively capturing this elusive construct.