1.4.3 Fuzzy Logic Links Between Concepts
To get started in building and analysing cognitive and concept maps, we need only three types of fuzzy logic links:
- Causal. Causal relationships are represented by arrows, where each arrow means ‘…leads to…’, such as is expressed in the statement ‘smoking leads to heart disease. This does not mean all smokers will suffer from heart disease but suggests there is strong evidence to this effect, noting all people who smoke will be affected, at least to some extent. In our statement, there are two concepts where the first is expressed as a call for action in positive terms, in turn, affecting the latter concept in a positive way. These concepts may be more fully expressed as:
- ‘partaking in the practice of smoking cigarettes’, and
- ‘the onset of heart disease later in life’.
- Connotative. Connotative relationships are typically depicted by dashed lines without arrowheads. Here we interpret connotation as causality that may act in either direction, at different times or under varying circumstances. This type of link suggests causality might be ill defined; open to some interpretation, or requiring further observation and investigation.
- Conflict. Conflicting relationships are a special case of the connotative, but where the concepts at the ends of each line cannot co-exist without conflict, or a state of stress being created. The convention used in this book to denote conflict is solid double lines without arrowheads (though in some maps these links may be depicted by dashed lines marked ‘CONFLICT’). Where colour is available it is suggested that these conflict link lines be drawn in red to make them stand out.