Describes a computer-based methodology for representing mental models as maps, extracting these maps from written and spoken texts, and analyzing and comparing concepts and structures of information within maps. Illustrates the model using data on students and teacher in an undergraduate writing class. Contains about 80 references. (Author/SV)

Discusses the problem of establishing terminology for mental models, attempts to sort out the various meanings found in the literature, and offers definitions that could help in developing a more standardized terminology for discussing issues of concern to researchers in human-computer interaction. The role of mental models in learning and using…