Using the Conceptual Mapping Technique in the Study of Small Groups
Using the Conceptual Mapping Technique in the Study of Small Groups

Summary/Abstract: In an information-based society, formal groups within organizations perform more than ever complex cognitive tasks (problem solving and decision making). Formal groups receive, represent, transform and create body of knowledge. Thus, a full understanding of the way groups perform these cognitive tasks requires an examination of the group as a cognitive system. The present study extends the cognitive psychology framework, concepts and methods to group research. We propose a cognitive architecture that can meet both the group process requirements stated by Gibson (2001) and Nonaka (1994) and the architectural requirements stated by Posner (1989) and Newell (1992). We also review the studies concerning the knowledge groups operate with and we argue that group’s explicit and implicit knowledge can be represented as cognitive schemata, propositional representations, production rules, artifact representations and narrative representations. We have tested some of the core assumptions of our cognitive architecture model for groups by using two empirical studies and specific cognitive research methods. The participants (150 undergraduate students) were assigned to 30 groups having 4 to 6 members and over a 14 weeks period they worked at the research projects covering 30% of their final individual grades. In order to evaluate the way groups are representing the specific knowledge related to their tasks, we have used the conceptual mapping technique. The empirical results support the main assumptions of the cognitive architecture.

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