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Computer-Supported Cognitive Mapping for Participatory Problem Structuring

Author

Listed:
  • Frank van Kouwen
  • Card Dieperink
  • Paul P Schot
  • Martin J Wassen

Abstract

The environmental management and planning community is struggling with a gap between knowledge and policy making. To bridge this gap, ‘decision support systems’, ‘planning support systems’, and other computer tools have been developed to make knowledge about complex issues more accessible for policy makers. However, the use of these systems in practice is limited. One major reason for this is that these systems are designed for well-defined problems, whereas in practice there is often a lack of stakeholder consensus on the problem structure. The aim of this paper is to present, and explore the potential of, a new approach for decision and planning support. The Quasta tool aims at facilitating participatory problem structuring through computer-supported cognitive mapping. The tool, allowing qualitative exploration of scenarios and simultaneous forecasting and backcasting, is tested in four participatory problem-structuring workshops, in which various environmental issues have been discussed. Evaluations of these workshops show that this approach (1) helps stakeholders to become aware of causal relationships, (2) is useful for a qualitative exploration of scenarios, (3) identifies the need for further (in-depth) knowledge, and (4) has a low threshold for nontechnicians.

Suggested Citation

  • Frank van Kouwen & Card Dieperink & Paul P Schot & Martin J Wassen, 2009. "Computer-Supported Cognitive Mapping for Participatory Problem Structuring," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 41(1), pages 63-81, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:41:y:2009:i:1:p:63-81
    DOI: 10.1068/a4099
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Eden, Colin, 2004. "Analyzing cognitive maps to help structure issues or problems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 159(3), pages 673-686, December.
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    3. Judith Petts & Catherine Brooks, 2006. "Expert Conceptualisations of the Role of Lay Knowledge in Environmental Decisionmaking: challenges for Deliberative Democracy," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 38(6), pages 1045-1059, June.
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