Structuring thought: Four unique methods and the challenge of synthesis

A fundamental thinking skill is the ability to see the structure of thought. Awareness of the structure of thought begins with an intuitive description of the elements and relations that constitute a decision-making process and a description of the relationship between the structure and function of thought. Regardless of how one judges the quality of everyday decisions in light of the goals being pursued, it is useful, as a first step, to construct a structural map of everyday decision-making processes. This allows for objective analysis of everyday decisions and it enhances structural awareness in those who map the thinking process and in those who read the maps. The same applies to scientific thinking. Scientists advocate a particular position in the academic field and explicit mapping of their arguments enhances structural awareness, critical comparison and evaluation, and communication in the field. Overall, the mapping of decision making is a worthwhile goal, a skill that is becoming increasingly prominent and even necessary as part of expert decision making in many fields of applied science. This chapter presents a case for the cultivation of graphicacy skills in this context. We describe four thought mapping techniques that offer considerable power and potential to elucidate and enhance thinking and decision making abilities. We suggest that technological advances may allow us to merge various different though mapping techniques and further enhance an interdependent set of graphicacy skills that may help to support decision making and adaptive action in context.