Mental Model Metrics and Team Adaptability: A Multi-Facet Multi-Method Examination

    Authors

    C. J. Resick; T. Murase; W. L. Bedwell; E. Sanz; M. Jimenez;L. A. DeChurch

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Group Dyn.-Theory Res. Pract.

    Keywords

    teams; cognition; team mental models; team adaptability; STRATEGIC CONSENSUS; PERFORMANCE; ADAPTATION; DIVERSITY; ABILITY; Psychology, Social

    Abstract

    This paper empirically examines the convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity of three team mental model measurement approaches. Specifically, this study measures the similarity (MM-similarity) and quality (MM-quality) facets of team strategy-focused mental models using structural networks, priority rankings, and importance ratings. The convergent and divergent relationships among the three mental model metrics are then examined via a multi-facet multi-method matrix. Finally, the relative utility of each metric for understanding the relationships between team mental models, team adaptability, and decision effectiveness are compared. The study was conducted in a laboratory setting, modeling 56 four-person decision-making teams. Results indicate little convergent and extensive discriminant validity across the three mental model metrics. In addition, only mental models measured using the structural networks metric were found to have predictive validity in relation to team adaptation and performance. The quality and similarity of team structural networks were found to have interactive effects in relation to adaptation such that mental model quality was most strongly related to adaptation for teams with low mental model similarity and unrelated to adaptation for teams with high similarity. In turn, adaptation was critical for team decision effectiveness.

    Journal Title

    Group Dynamics-Theory Research and Practice

    Volume

    14

    Issue/Number

    4

    Publication Date

    1-1-2010

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    332

    Last Page

    349

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000285370900005

    ISSN

    1089-2699

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