HOW TO USECONCEPT MAPPING

Hannah Thomson

Objectives Introduction to and steps used in

concept mapping Review concept mapping for

program planning and evaluation Look at the technique in qualitative

research Review the strengths and

limitations of concept mapping

What is Concept Mapping? Visual illustration of relationship

between concepts and ideas Concepts placed within circles or

boxes, linked by lines/arrows/phrases Helps to further understand

problems and discover new relationships

Often moves from broad to specific

Steps to Create a Concept Map1. Establish focus question and broad topic

of interest2. Identify key concepts3. Construct a preliminary concept map4. Establish cross-links between concepts5. Revise map

Program Planning and Evaluation

Helps develop conceptual framework

Programs dependent on initial conception

Planning: establishes goals, objectives, needs, resources, etc

Evaluation: helps evaluate and conceptualize what is relevant

Qualitative Research Technique Participatory qualitative research

method Framework for individual or group

views on a particular topic Participant “brainstorming”

sessions Sorting, rating, and analyzing of

items in relation to focus question

Community Engagement Captures lived experiences of target

populations and develops coding schemes Documents community thinking Uncovers unknown contextual factors Stimulates community dialogue and critical

thinking Allows for active exchange of knowledge

between community and researchers

Strengths Works well in both data

collection and analysis Can be used with

individuals and groups Helps better understand

problems Explores new information

and relationships Accurate representation of

peoples thoughts

Limitations Difficulties associated with visual display

of thoughts Complex maps difficult to interpret Supplemental text often required May actually discourage critical thinking

Video Example

Conclusion

Concept mapping is a great visual tool for: Understanding relationships within

a topic Problem solving Data collection and analysis Program planning and evaluation Qualitative research

Resources Burke, J. G., O’Campo, P., Peak, G. L., Gielen, A. C.,

McDonnell, K. A., & Trochim, W. M. (2005). An introduction to concept mapping as a participatory public health research method. Qualitative health research, 15(10), 1392-1410

Novak, J. D., & Cañas, A. J. (2006). The theory underlying concept maps and how to construct them. Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, 1.

Wheeldon, J. P., & Faubert, J. (2009). Framing experience: concept maps, mind maps, and data collection in qualitative research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 8(3), 52-67.

Youtube Video: Mind Map Research Presentation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coWSMHDAAp0