A Cognitive Approach to Social Science Research

Abstract

This article, which draws upon material from a minor thesis completed for the degree of Master of Urban Planning, looks at the use of cognitive mapping as a research tool. Cognitive mapping has recently been developed in the field of Operations Research, management and amongst policy makers. This paper attempts to show how it may be applied effectively to social science research, particularly if used in combination with other more usual data gathering techniques such as questionnaires and diary recording. The article commences with a discussion of Personal Construct Theory which provides the conceptual basis for cognitive mapping. The middle section demonstrates the mapping process, and the article concludes with some comments concerning its limitations as well as its advantages over other techniques. The utilisation of cognitive mapping in settings other than research is also raised.