Cognitive Mapping

A ‘cognitive map’ is an internal representation of how individuals have made sense of the world around them. Humans use them to help them navigate the physical structure of places and to find their way—literally—in the world. They also use them to assist them in handling information and recognizing patterns, situations, places and symbols while navigating, understanding and responding to the social world around them. They draw on their cognitive maps to support their decision-making and understanding of all that they know of the world.

Action researchers use cognitive mapping to facilitate interventions within organizations. By diagnosing problems or misunderstandings, cognitive mapping can help people understand their own and others' subjective beliefs about a topic, idea or task, or the context of an action research intervention.

Edward C. Tolman introduced the term as his contribution to the development of the understanding of how humans behave in the environment. It was not until the early 1970s that the term cognitive map became popular and began to be used by experimental and developmental psychologists. The phrase also took hold among geographers, to whom the term had particular appeal. The variety of forms and techniques for cognitive mapping has arisen in part due to the interdisciplinary nature of cognitive science, which studies the mind and intelligence. However, the universal appeal of the technique to researchers from a wide variety of disciplines has given the subject area a broad base of knowledge and viewpoints. These include geographers, planners and architects, psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, political scientists, cognitive scientists, computer scientists, biologists and neurologists.

[Page 113][Page 114][Page 115]The following sections outline the key aspects of causal, semantic and conceptual mapping.