Klein et al. - 2007 - data-frame theory of sensemaking

referenceArchiveUUID: "4082e36d-c883-4680-b2ab-39754788d1e4"
fullTitle: "A data-frame theory of sensemaking"
authors: ["Gary Klein","J.K. Phillips","E.L. Rall","Deborah Peluso"]

Eight functions of Sensemaking (p117):

1. problem detection (e.g. weather forecasters looking for worrying storms)
2. connecting the dots, making discoveries (e.g. general finding more tanks based on one suspicious sighting)
3. forming explanations (e.g. physician diagnosing illness)
4. anticipatory thinking (e.g. to prevent potential accidents)
5. project future states (e.g. to prepare for them)
6. find levers: how to think/act (e.g. recasting a purchasing decision in terms of specific tradeoffs)
7. see relationships (e.g. using a map)
8. problem identification (e.g. a student making sense of an exercise to figure out what solution strategy to apply)

Q. What do the authors mean by a “frame”?
A. “an explanatory structure that defines entities by describing their relationship to other entities” ☉

“The data {elicit and help to construct} the frame; the frame {defines, connects, and filters} the data.” (p118) ☉

Q. Give a few examples of forms a “frame” might take.
A. story, map, script, plan ☉

Q. Authors’ most concise six-word definition of Sensemaking?
A. “The deliberate effort to understand events.” ☉

Q. What typically triggers Sensemaking in these authors’ paradigm?
A. Unexpected changes / surprises that make us doubt our existing frame and perception. ☉

My read of p119’s background suggests that frames (as Klein construes them) are very similar to “Chunks” in human cognition and the sort of “schema acquisition” discussed in Sweller & Cooper - 1985 - Use of Worked Examples as a Substitute for Problem Solving in Learning Algebra.

Q. Define Sensemaking in terms of frames and data.
A. “Sensemaking is the process of fitting data into a frame and fitting a frame around the data.” (p120) ☉

Q. What kinds of things does a frame accomplish for us during Sensemaking?
A. defines a situation’s elements, describes their significance and their relationships, filters irrelevant details, highlights relevant elements ☉

Q. In what sense is Sensemaking a process of “constructing data” as well as meaning?
A. Frames define what counts as data in the first place (p120) ☉

Wick (1995) defines sensemaking as “a continuous {alternation between} {particulars [data]} and {explanations [frames]}”. ☉

Q. In what sense do the authors’ view of Sensemaking contradict “passive” information-processing models?
A. Choice of frames determines which data are attended to; it’s not the case that “raw” data are simply perceived and then interpreted. (p122) ☉

Q. About how many data elements are used as “anchors” to derive an initial frame?
A. <= 3-4 (p123) ☉

Q. When does Sensemaking cease?
A. When data and frame are aligned: no more key data elements remain explained or key frame elements remain ambiguous. ☉

Q. Summarize the differences the authors identify in expert and novice infoops Sensemaking.
A. They use the same reasoning processes, but experts have a richer repertoire of frames, which allowed them to filter and relate data more effectively. ☉

Q. How do they define a “mental model”?
A. A causal understanding of the way things work (p130) ☉

Q. How do they contrast a “mental model” from a “frame”?
A. A mental model is a kind of frame (alongside a story, script, map, etc) ☉