Merging internal and external processes: examining the mental model convergence process through team communication

摘要

Mental model convergence is a macrocognitive process critical to team develop-nment. Yet, little is known about how the convergence process occurs in a teamndomain. To date, researchers have examined convergence at specific pointsnin time after performance episodes. While this approach has moved the fieldnforward, research is needed that captures the dynamics of the convergence processnas it occurs during collaborative activities. To facilitate this needed research, wenpresent a framework for examining mental model convergence via communicatednmental model content. Our framework is theoretically based on research inncognitive science and communication, as well as more recent team mental modelnresearch. By explicitly establishing the theoretical connection between mentalnmodel convergence and team communication, we extend the extant research thatnlinks communication and team cognition and address a gap in the team mentalnmodel literature regarding how to examine the mental model convergence processnover time.