Table 5
Similarity measures.
Similarity measure Definition Parameters comparedb
Technical definition Operationalization
1. Number of concepts Compare the number of concepts
(nodes) in two models
The total number of nodes (vertices) The overall number of conceptsd
2. Number of relationsa Compare the number of links (edges)
in two models
The total number of links (edges) The overall number of relations of paired
conceptsd
3. Average degree Compare the average number of
degrees in two models
The average number of links of a node, ranging
from 0 and g-1 (g being the total number of
nodes)
As the number of incoming and outgoing
relations grows, the complexity of the
cognitive structure is considered higher.d
4. Density of graphs Compare the density of two models The density of a graph is the proportion of
possible lines that are actually present in the
graph.
The density of a concept map indicates how
cohesive it is.
5. Mean distance Compare the mean distances in two
models
The average geodesicc distance between any
pair of nodes in a network
Indicates how close the concepts are to one
another.
6. Diametera Compare the largest geodesics in two
models
The length of the largest geodesic between any
pair of nodes (1 to g-1)
Represents how broad the understanding of a
domain is.d
7. Connectedness Compare the ratios of paired nodes
that reach each other in each graph
Ratio of pairs, nodes that can reach each other
in the graph.
Describes the extent to which the concepts are
connected.d
8. Subgroups Compare the number of cohesive
subgroups in each graph
Subsets of actors among which there are
relatively strong, direct, intense, frequent, or
positive ties.
The more complex a cognitive structure, the
more subgroups will intermediate the entire
network.d
9. Concept matchinga Compare semantically identical
concepts, including contextual and
principle variables
Qualitative comparison
10. Propositional matchinga Compare fully identical propositions
(edges) between two concept maps
Qualitative comparison
11. Balanced semantic
matchinga
Compare the balances calculated by
dividing Propositional matching by
Concept matching
Based on the values of two similarities:
Concept and Propositional matching