*post by Barbara Lewis and LeEtta Schmidt
Mind and concept mapping are processes by which ideas, knowledge, and problems are visually documented and organized. While there are differences between mind maps (single topic, center-out hierarchical structure, documenting ideas/brainstorming) and concepts maps (complex topics or problems, identifying and implementing solutions, visualizing knowledge), for this blog post we’ll use mind map to cover both.
The simplest and perhaps most familiar method of brainstorming with mind-mapping is on a board or with sticky notes in a meeting. Perhaps it becomes a flow chart, or an annual report. This method of compiling and connecting interrelated ideas can also be used in developing a research question, narrowing a topic, and planning the research paper.
Mind mapping can be a helpful way of recording brainstorming and narrowing research topics by allowing you to easily visualize the complexities of any one topic. You can use mind maps to identify sources to search, collect search terms and phrases, and define your search strategy. Mind mapping may also help you determine and document what you already know about your topic vs. what you need to know. If your topic is too large, a mind map can help you to spot areas of narrower focus and to easily see which ideas are most closely related, and should perhaps be addressed together. You can also use mind mapping, in lieu of an outline to help structure an introduction or discussion part of a research paper. The research process flowchart developed by VanderMey, et.al., for The College Writer: A Guide to Thinking, Writing, and Researching provides an excellent mind map to guide you through the steps of planning, conducting, and organizing your research.
If you don’t have a white board handy or would rather work online where you can easily save and share your mind-mapping, there are a selection of free and paid for applications available to you. This is a small sample:
- Xmind: https://www.xmind.net/
- Literature & Latte Scapple: https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scapple/overview
- Free mind: http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
- Coggle: https://coggle.it/
- Mindmup: https://www.mindmup.com/
There are also free online tools that “mind map” or visualize thesaurus results that can help you broaden your list of search terms and phrases. One drawback of most of these tools is that they only search individual words and not phrases, however some do return phrases in the results. Visuwords (https://visuwords.com) provides some of the most diverse results.
Retrieved July 25,2019 from https://visuwords.com.
Mind and concept mapping can be powerful tools to augment and facilitate your research process. If you’d like to learn more about the process or tools, submit a consultation request at https://www.lib.usf.edu/services/forms/research-consultation-request/.