摘要：Although the broad concept of mental models is gaining currency as a way to explore the link between how peoplethink and interact with their world, this concept is limited by a theoretical and practical understanding of how it can be appliedin the study of human-environment relationships. Tools and processes are needed to be able to elicit and analyze mental models.Because mental models are not directly observable, it is also important to understand how the application of any tools andprocesses affects what is measured. Equally important are the needs to be clear on the intent of the elicitation and to design themethods and choose the settings accordingly. Through this special edition, we explore how mental models are elicited usingtwo approaches applied in two case-study regions. We analyze two approaches used in the Crocodile River catchment of SouthAfrica: a graphically based approach, i.e., actors, resources, dynamics, and interactions (ARDI); and an interview- or text-basedapproach, i.e., consensus analysis (CA). A further experiment in the Rhone Delta (Camargue), France, enabled us to test a cross-over between these two methods using ARDI methodology to collect data and CA to analyse it. Here, we compare and explorethe limitations and challenges in applying these two methods in context and conclude that they have much to offer when usedsingly or in combination. We first develop a conceptual framework as a synthesis of key social and cognitive psychologyliterature. We then use this framework to guide the enquiry into the key lessons emerging from the comparative application ofthese approaches to eliciting mental models in the two case regions. We identify key gaps in our knowledge and suggest importantresearch questions that remain to be addressed
关键词：ARDI; consensus analysis; France; mental models; social representations; South Africa; water management
