ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the analysis of mental models that represent how a domain is organized. The result of such an analysis is a domain model, which can take the form of a conceptual model, a causal model, and a structural model. Mental models specify how competent task performers mentally organize a domain in such a way that they can reason about it to support their problem solving and decision making. The chapter discusses the specification of domain models, including the identification of conceptual, structural, and causal models. It presents the empirical analysis of intuitive mental models is briefly discussed because the existence of such models may interfere with the learner's construction of more effective and scientific models. The chapter discusses the use of domain models for the design process. Domain models are helpful for refining a sequence of task classes and for designing an important part of the supportive information.
