There are many ways to map concepts.

Perhaps the simplest approach is just to draw pictures of your ideas--a process sometimes called “mindmapping,” which is a lot like organized, conceptual doodling. This type of mapping has its place, but that is not what is meant here. The type of Concept Mapping described here combines a group process with computer technology that uses state-of-the-art multivariate statistical techniques to develop maps to show what the group thinks.

A single Concept Mapping project actually produces a number of interrelated maps--like different views of the same structure.

A “point map” shows each of the original brainstormed ideas as a dot on a page/screen. Ideas that are closer together were sorted more frequently into the same categories by participants:

A “cluster map” shows how the specific ideas can be grouped into more general clusters or concepts. You control how many clusters you would like to look at. You can number the clusters or, as shown here, have the program select “best” labels based on the participants’ sorts:

A “point rating map” shows how each specific idea is rated (e.g., how important each idea is). In this example we see the average importance for each statement:

A “cluster rating map” shows the height of each cluster (i.e., number of layers), indicating the average rating for the cluster. In this example, we see the average importance ratings for an eight cluster solution:

A “cluster bridging map” shows the height of each cluster (i.e., number of layers), indicating the average bridging for the cluster:

A “cluster replay map” shows how clusters are grouped hierarchically as the cluster analysis replays a range of clusters that you specify. Here, we replay the cluster analysis from 12 clusters to 8:

An accompanying table describes the replay above. The numbers in the above figure and in the table below indicate the 12 cluster solution:

Cluster Replay From 12 To 8 Done

Cluster Replay Listing

At Cluster 11 merged: 10 11

At Cluster 10 merged: 1 2

At Cluster 9 merged: 5 6

At Cluster 8 merged: 8 9

You can also combine maps into a variety of “hybrid” maps. For instance, here is an example of a point rating map overlaid on a cluster map: