Shared Mental Model

Categories: Ahrq

Etym. share (n.) (v.) 1580s, “to apportion to someone as his share; to apportion out to others; to enjoy or suffer (something) with others,” from share. Meaning “to divide one’s own and give part to others” is recorded from 1590s. Related: Shared, sharer, sharing

Etym. mental (adj.) early 15c., “pertaining to the mind,” from Middle French mental, from Late Latin mentalis “of the mind,” from Latin mens (genitive mentis) “mind;” cognates: Sanskrit matih “thought, mind;” Old English gemynd “memory, remembrance.”

Etym. model. Sense of “thing or person to be imitated” is 1630s.

Definition

A means of describing that each participant in a simulation has a shared understanding of the purpose and process of the simulation activity and participants’ roles.

The knowledge framework of the relationships between the task the team is engaged in and how the team members will interact. For example: this framework facilitates a team’s ability to predict what team members will do when faced with a task, and what they will need to do it.

A framework whereby an individual team member develops a perception of the situation, it is shared, allowing the team to reflect on the information and revise their situational awareness and their own mental model based on new information. For example: Sharing can be done by vocalizing observations, calling out information, using a structured time-out to communicate new information, and thinking out loud to allow others to relate and appreciate the associations, assessments, and plans. Shared mental models facilitate collaboration, and are crucial when team communication in a situation is difficult (due to time pressure, etc.).

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