COB 202 - Social Issues

Concept Mapping is a visual way to explore a research topic and can help you narrow a broad idea into a more focused topic. By brainstorming what you already know about a topic, the questions you have, and more you can outline areas you need to do further research in and start making decisions about how to narrow your topic down.

Concept mapping can also be called a bubble map or mind map, but they don't have to look a certain way. If you prefer a less visual style, your map can also be a bulleted list. Use pen and paper to draw your map or try a digital tool like Lucidchart, Bubbl, and Popplet out to easily make a concept map.

1. The main focus of your concept map is your research topic. In a bubble map this will go in your center circle.
2. Branching off of your topic are ideas that relate to your topic. These can be organized by:
   • Things you know about your topic
   • Questions you have related to your topic or things you don't know
   • Search terms and keywords related to your topic that you can use to find articles
   • Stakeholders - who is impacted by or has a role related to your topic?
   • Specific focus or themes - What are different opinions or perspectives on your topic?
3. Continue branching off these sub-topics to narrow your ideas even more. Consider:
   • Where might you go to find the answers to your questions?
   • What interests you the most about this topic?
   • What areas are you focusing in on? For example, are you only examining this issue in the US? Are you looking at it through the angle of a specific event?
   • Are there any synonyms to your search terms?