Models as Parts of Distributed Cognitive Systems

Recent work on the role of models in science has revealed a great many kinds of models performing many different roles. In this paper I suggest that one can find much unity among all this diversity by thinking of many models as being components of distributed cognitive systems. I begin by distinguishing the relevant notion of a distributed cognitive system and then give examples of different kinds of models that can be thought of as functioning as components of such systems. These include both physical and abstract models. After considering several objections, I conclude by locating distributed cognition within larger movements in contemporary cognitive science. 1. INTRODUCTION. Recent work on the role of models in science has revealed a great many kinds of models performing different roles. In this paper I will suggest that one can find much unity among all this diversity by thinking of many models as being components of distributed cognitive systems. I will begin b

Understanding Change and Innovation in health care settings: Re-conceptualising the active role of context

This article discusses the ways in which ‘context’ has been formulated and explored in healthcare settings. We contend that context is an important, but poorly understood mediator of change and innovation and that there is a dearth of empirical work in healthcare studies that adequately deals with context. Drawing on extensive empirical data exploring the career of ‘evidence based’ healthcare innovations, we illustrate that context should not be seen as a backcloth to action but as an interacting element in the chang