Cognitive Maps of Decision-Makers in a Complex Game

This paper illustrates the use of a cognitive mapping technique to examine the behaviour and perceptions of individual decision-makers. A cognitive map is a representation of the subjective decision-making environment of an individual. Seven military officers each played two scenarios in a research wargame. Analysis of their communications in the game showed that individual players were remarkably consistent over the two scenarios, but their perceptions of their common decision-making environment differed noticeably. Differences related to the size and complexity of their cognitive maps, the detailed interpretation of the maps, the players' confidence and anticipation of the future and the way in which the maps were altered as time progressed.