Mental Models: Structural Differences and the Role of Experience

Mental models are mental representations of the external world that humans constantly use when they interact with the environment and systems within it. These mental models are in part constituted by an underlying structure of associated concepts that are modified as a person gains experience with a system or domain. Video games provide a context that encourages the development of sophisticated mental models. The current research sought to understand how mental model structures differ between video game players of varying experience levels. Participants were recruited both over internet forums and through Mechanical Turk. Mental model structures were measured using relatedness ratings between pairs of concepts that were derived from players with high levels of experience playing League of Legends. Relatedness ratings were transformed into Pathfinder networks that were used to analyze mental model structures. Results revealed structural differences in mental models between experience levels. A three-stage model of mental model structure development is proposed to explain the results, which suggest that some structural characteristics appear earlier in mental model development than others. The role of mental model structural characteristics is discussed in light of both the design of training programs and video games.

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