Defining and Using Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping

This chapter lays the foundations for the book by answering two essential questions: what are Fuzzy Cognitive Maps, and why do we use them? We show that there are three different definitions, depending on the focus of a study: mental models that are aligned with how knowledge is stored in human memory, mathematical objects akin to recurrent neural networks but with meaningful concepts, or discrete simulation models capable of performing what-if scenarios. Since these definitions are tightly coupled with applications, we then propose a typology of tasks, including the use of FCM to support learning or as expert systems. This chapter will guide readers in identifying the strand of literature most relevant to their own purpose.