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- How would you describe a mental model?
- How do users form mental models?
- How do you evaluate a mental model?
- How is the users mental model important in HCI?
How would you describe a mental model?
A mental model is an explanation of someone's thought process about how something works in the real world. It is a representation of the surrounding world, the relationships between its various parts and a person's intuitive perception about their own acts and their consequences.
How do users form mental models?
The mental model of the user is what expectations the user forms around how a product or experience should behave. This mental model is usually formed through use of similar products or usage patterns or by engaging in similar experiences that help the user form an idea of how things are most likely to work.
How do you evaluate a mental model?
For mental models, you would need to keep track of the result of decisions made using a specific mental model. The more similar the results are over time, the more reliable the mental model. This is simple to achieve by adding a section to your daily notes or journal. Roam would be a great tool for this use case.
How is the users mental model important in HCI?
Mental models play an important role in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and interaction design. They relate to the way that a user perceives the world around them and are based in belief as opposed to being a factual concept.
