The structure of mental models of sustainable agriculture

摘要: Progress towards sustainability is hampered by differing perceptions of how to advance goals in systems characterized massive interdependency. Systems thinking has been advocated as a model for improving understanding and management complex systems, but theory methods analyse are not well developed. We propose apply new way assessing using social network tools mental models. examine the cognitive maps 148 thought leaders sustainable agriculture California measure extent which each map captures six fundamental causal patterns. find that more forms structure associated with relatively under-represented experts’ maps. Our findings have important implications individual collective decision making about other science policy debates involving systems. Cognitive mapping reveals people think enables hypothesis tests on This study finds education experience nuanced form complex-systems agriculture, such feedback loops indirect effects.