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Research Guides

FCS 590: Intellectual Foundations in Family and Consumer Sciences: Concept Mapping

What is Concept Mapping?

Concept mapping is a creative and visual way to help you explore and refine your topic.  It can also help you determine subtopics and to brainstorm search terms.  Concept maps illustrate a central theme and related themes to help focus a topic and create search strategies.

Concept Mapping Tools

Concept Map Example

From a concept map, like the sample below, it is possible to:

  • Narrow down your topic (e.g., death penalty and age)
  • Add a clarification term to focus the topic (e.g., death penalty and age and public opinion)
  • Create a search strategy using synonyms (e.g., death penalty or capital punishment; age or minimum age or juveniles; public opinion or public attitudes)