Assessing users mental models in designing complex systems

Our main research interest is exploring the role of users´ mental models while designing complex systems, in order to Improve the design process. We use as a conceptual framework the user-centered design approach DUTCH (Van der Veer & Van Welle, 2000) and consider that the assessment of ours´ mental models should be some very early in the design process. We investigate our hypothesis by performing a study in which we use scenarios to create mental models of the future system. Then, we explore the mental models using several methods. (Teach -back, Pathfinder, and Cued-Association Task). In this paper we present the results from the Teach -back method. Our conclusions show the utility of such approach in improving the design process.