Using the Conceptual Mapping Technique in the Study of Small Groups
Petru Lucian Curşeu
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 groups 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.
Keywords: cognitive architecture, conceptual mapping, cognitive representations, formal
groups.
Rezumat: Studiul de faţã extinde aparatul conceptual şi metodologic al psihologiei cognitive la studiul grupurilor sociale restrânse. Într-un studiu anterior (Curşeu, 2001) am propus un model de arhitecturã cognitivã pentru grupurile formale. Asumpţia principalã a acestui model este aceea cã grupurile formale construiesc şi utilizeazã reprezentãri cognitive. Principalele tipuri de reprezentãri pe care le pot structura şi utiliza grupurile sunt: scheme cognitive, reprezentãri propoziţionale, reguli de producere, exograme şi reprezentãri narative (Curşeu, 2001).
Ne adresãm în acest studiu reprezentãrilor propoziţionale. Participanţii (150 de studenţi) au fost
repartizaţi în 30 de grupuri a câte 4, 5 şi, respectiv, 6 membri fiecare. Sarcina acestor grupuri a
fost aceea de a dezvolta un proiect de cercetare, evaluarea acestui proiect acoperind 30% din nota finalã la disciplinã (psihologie socialã). Pentru studierea reprezentãrilor propoziţionale am utilizat o variantã modificatã a sarcinii hãrţilor conceptuale. Am modificat aceastã sarcinã pentru a surprinde interacţiunea dintre membrii grupului în dezvoltarea reţelei propoziţionale a domeniului studiat. Rezultatele obţinute demonstreazã cã grupurile pot dezvolta şi utiliza reprezentãri colective de tip propoziţional.
Cu toate cã abordarea cognitivã a grupurilor nu este încã foarte dezvoltatã, cercetarea pe care o propunem oferã o serie de rãspunsuri referitoare la modul în care grupurile formale proceseazã
informaţia disponibilã în vederea realizãrii unei sarcini cognitive.
Résumé: La présente étude étend lappareil conceptuel et méthodologique de la psychologie
cognitive à létude des groupes sociaux restreints. Dans une étude antérieure (Curºeu, 2001),
nous avons proposé un modèle darchitecture cognitive pour les groupes formels. La thèse
principale de ce modèle est: les groupes formels construisent et emploient des représentations
cognitives. Les principaux types de représentations que les groupes peuvent structurer et employer sont: schémas cognitifs, représentations propositionnelles, règles de production, exogrammes et représentations narratives (Curºeu, 2001).
Dans la présente étude, nous avons pour sujet les représentations propositionnelles. Les participants (150 étudiants) ont été répartis en 30 groupes ayant 4, 5, respectivement 6 membres chacun. La tâche de ces groupes a été de développer un projet de recherche, lévaluation de ce projet représentant 30% de la note finale pour la discipline en question (psychologie sociale).
Pour létude des représentations propositionnelles, nous avons utilisé une variante modifiée de la
tâche des cartes conceptuelles. Nous avons modifié cette tâche-là pour surprendre linteraction
entre les membres du groupe dans le développement du réseau propositionnel du domaine étudié.
Les résultats obtenus démontrent que les groupes peuvent développer et employer des repré-
sentations collectives de type propositionnel. Bien que létude cognitive des groupes ne soit pas encore très développée, la recherche que nous proposons offre une série de réponses relatives à la manière dont les groupes formels travaillent linformation disponible en vue de laccomplissement dune tâche cognitive.
