Concept mapping is a visual technique used to organize and represent knowledge. The process of concept mapping involves creating a diagram that illustrates the relationships between different concepts, making complex ideas easier to understand. Each concept is represented as a node (usually in a box or circle), and lines or arrows connect them to show their relationships.
Concept maps are widely used in research, education, strategic planning, and evaluation to clarify thinking, analyze data, and facilitate learning.
How Does Concept Mapping Work? #
The different steps involved in the process of concept mapping include:
- Identifying the central concept – The main idea or theme is placed at the center of the map.
- Brainstorming related ideas – Secondary concepts that relate to the main idea are added.
- Drawing connections – Lines or arrows are used to illustrate how different concepts are linked.
- Organizing and refining – The map is structured hierarchically or thematically for clarity.
Benefits of Concept Mapping #
The various benefits of concept mapping include:
- Enhances understanding – Concept mapping helps break down complex information into a structured format.
- Encourages critical thinking – It promotes deeper analysis by visually exploring connections.
- Improves communication – It also makes abstract concepts easier to explain and share.
Applications #
Concept mapping is used in various fields, including:
- Education – To teach and assess students’ understanding.
- Research – To organize literature reviews or develop theories.
- Program evaluation – To map relationships between program activities and outcomes.
Concept mapping is a great way to organize ideas and see how they connect, making it especially useful for learning, making decisions, and evaluating information in various fields.
List of recommended resources #
For a broad overview #
This brief by Cornell University gives an overview of concept mapping and how to approach creating a concept map. Additional links are provided to explore how concept mapping is used in problem-solving, in teaching-learning methods etc.
This short video tutorial by Lucid Software uses both beginner-friendly and expert diagrammers to explain how concept mapping works and how to create a concept map in simple steps.
For in-depth understanding #
Concept Mapping for Planning and Evaluation
Edited by Mary Kane and William M. Trochim, this book provides an accessible guide to concept mapping for social or organizational researchers in any context. It elucidates the six major steps in the conduct of group concept mapping as well as certain techniques to create a concept map.
This guide by Lucidchart gives an in-depth understanding of concept maps, their key features and use, as well as how concept mapping is used for education, business and healthcare.
Case study #
A Concept Mapping Approach to Guide and Understand Dissemination and Implementation
This research paper by Amy E. Green, Danielle L. Fettes, and Gregory A. Aarons describes the use of concept mapping—a mixed method strategy—to study implementation of behavioral health innovations and evidence-based practice (EBP).
This paper aims to report an application of concept mapping (a) to facilitate metacognition steps in students, and (b) to identify the muddiest points students struggle with, during both in-person and online instruction of a problem-solving-based biomedical engineering course.
