Cognitive mapping is a specific visualization technique used primarily to capture and represent the mental structures and beliefs of an individual regarding a problematic situation. It serves as a tool for understanding how a person makes sense of their world and the complex issues they face. It was originally devised by Colin Eden and colleagues in 1983.
The concept of cognitive mapping is tightly linked to psychological theory and is integral to methodologies like Strategic Options Development and Analysis (SODA).
Purpose and Function
The core function of cognitive mapping is to facilitate learning and structuring complex situations:
- Structuring Thinking: Maps structure thinking by capturing chains of argumentation, which reveal the richness of the area of concern, themes, dilemmas, and inconsistencies in arguments.
- Eliciting Deeper Insight: Mapping enables further exploration of a problem by focusing on teasing out explanations (“laddering down”) for assertions and determining the reasons why issues matter (“laddering up”). This process helps capture wisdom, ‘tacit’ knowledge, and experience.
- Visual Representation: It presents ideas in a graphical form, which allows material to be captured on a single sheet, facilitating exploration, and providing insights into the structure.
- Analysis: The graphical structure enables “rough” analyses, such as determining potential key issues, goals/values (at the top of the map hierarchy), and potential self-sustaining or controlling feedback loops.