methodatlas
Method guideKnowledge Modeling

Concept Mapping

A practical method guide: clarify prerequisites and materials, understand the complete process, and look up outputs, pitfalls, and stop criteria.

ComplexityMedium
Time1-2 h
Participants1-8
FormatWorkshop + async
MaturityCanonical
Plan
01

Prerequisite

What needs to be finished first

Complete firstFocus question

The question bounds topic, purpose and perspective.

Without focus, the result becomes an unsorted topic map.
Complete firstKnowledge base

Sources or domain experts can test concepts and relationships.

Mark uncertain propositions explicitly.
02

Preparation

What needs to be ready before start

Materials

Large workspace, focus question, source material, concept cards and markers for linking phrases.

People / roles

People with domain knowledge, a facilitator and a documentation owner.

Pre-read

Focus question, context and reliable sources or observations.

Time needed

60–120 minutes

Setup

Prepare the workspace from general to specific and a parking area for unconnected concepts.

03

Core question

The one question this method answers

Which concepts and propositions answer our focus question?

04

Flow

Phases with goal, actions, output and pitfall

A Concept Map answers a focus question with hierarchically arranged concepts. Labelled links form readable propositions, while cross-links reveal relationships between knowledge domains.

Concept Map · Worksheet

Fictional example

The worksheet separates focus, concepts, propositions, cross-links and revision.

Focus question

What open question should the map answer, in what context?

How is a reliable course-booking confirmation produced?

Concepts

Which 15 to 25 terms are central, and which are more general or specific?

Booking request, participation rules, capacity, reservation, confirmation.

Propositions

Which concepts connect through what linking phrase to form a meaningful statement?

Booking request is checked against participation rules.

Cross-links

Which relationship across branches adds explanatory meaning?

Corporate seat limit constrains capacity.

Revision

Which propositions are uncertain, redundant or open? Which source or person can resolve them?

Expiry of unpaid reservations is open; Operations resolves by Friday.

The document describes the parts; build the map spatially with directed, labelled edges.

Novak & Cañas: Theory Underlying Concept Maps

  1. 1

    Focus

    Refine the focus question

    Goal

    Clear focus question

    Inputs for this step

    • Learning or decision goal
    • Domain boundary

    Actions

    • Write an open focus question with context.
    • Define terms and exclude unrelated subtopics.

    Output

    Focus question

    Question, context and purpose

    Quality check

    Can the completed map be read as an answer?

    Pitfall

    The heading only names a topic. Turn the topic into an answerable focus question.

    Timing: 10–15 minutes

  2. 2

    Concepts

    Collect key concepts

    Goal

    Concept parking lot

    Inputs for this step

    • Focus question
    • Sources and domain knowledge

    Actions

    • List roughly 15 to 25 central concepts as concise labels.
    • Resolve duplicates and separate concepts from examples or complete claims.

    Output

    Ordered concept list

    Short, unambiguous labels

    Quality check

    Does each card name a concept rather than a statement? Are the most inclusive concepts present?

    Pitfall

    Cards contain sentences or activities. Reduce them to the key concept and express the relation later as a linking phrase.

    Timing: 15–20 minutes

  3. 3

    Hierarchy

    Build the hierarchy

    Goal

    Provisional knowledge structure

    Inputs for this step

    • Concept list
    • Focus question

    Actions

    • Place the most inclusive concepts first.
    • Group subordinate concepts and leave uncertain cards in the parking lot.

    Output

    Concept hierarchy

    Levels and clusters

    Quality check

    Does placement express a meaningful generalisation? Does the hierarchy remain tied to the focus question?

    Pitfall

    The map is only sorted as a process sequence. Build a knowledge hierarchy; use sequence only when it carries domain meaning.

    Timing: 15–25 minutes

  4. 4

    Propositions

    Write propositions

    Goal

    Meaningful Concept Map

    Inputs for this step

    • Concept hierarchy
    • Domain claims

    Actions

    • Label every connection with a verb or short phrase.
    • Read concept A plus linking phrase plus concept B as a complete claim.

    Output

    Labelled propositions

    Concept, linking phrase, concept

    Quality check

    Does every connection form a meaningful statement? Is edge direction explicit?

    Pitfall

    Lines indicate proximity but no meaning. Add a precise linking phrase or remove the line.

    Timing: 20–35 minutes

  5. 5

    Cross-links

    Test cross-links

    Goal

    Integrated, reviewed map

    Inputs for this step

    • Labelled map
    • Sources and questions

    Actions

    • Look for explanatory relationships between branches.
    • Correct unclear propositions, remove redundancy and mark open questions.

    Output

    Revised Concept Map

    Cross-links, open questions and version

    Quality check

    Does each cross-link create new meaning? Are uncertain statements visibly marked?

    Pitfall

    Extra cross-links increase density without clarity. Keep only relationships that can be stated as relevant propositions.

    Timing: 15–25 minutes

05

Artifact

What comes out at the end

Sketch: what the artifact looks like

Concept Mapping · Labeled Knowledge NetworkJointly make focus question, concepts, relations, and open gaps visible
Concept MappingThe visual shows a focus question leading to a labeled network of concepts, relationships, and marked knowledge gaps.Understand terms through named relationshipsConcepts are not only collected, but connected through explicit relationships into testable knowledge.limitsconsists ofcontrolscreateusesframesconstrainsunclear?Focus questionWhat should the map explain?How do the terms connect?SystemwholeActorsinfluenceProcessorders workArtifactsmake visibleContextsets boundariesGaprelationship...
Form

Versioned Concept Map with focus question, hierarchy, labelled propositions, cross-links and open questions.

Versioning / ownership

Include focus question and date in the title; retain major restructures as separate versions.

Tool alternatives
  • CmapTools
  • Whiteboard with cards and labelled edges
  • Diagramming tool with editable linking phrases

concept-mapping-working-template.md

Write a focus question that defines the purpose and boundary of the map.

Concept Mapping: Worksheet

Question

To be confirmed

Desired outcome

To be confirmed

Scope

Complete workflow Time: 60–120 minutes

Complete this worksheet on paper or in your own document during the work.

Preparation for this scope

Method setup

  • Materials: Large workspace, focus question, source material, concept cards and markers for linking phrases.
  • Roles: People with domain knowledge, a facilitator and a documentation owner.
  • Advance information: Focus question, context and reliable sources or observations.
  • Overall time needed: 60–120 minutes
  • Setup: Prepare the workspace from general to specific and a parking area for unconnected concepts.

Prepare for the work steps

Focus: Refine the focus question

  • Learning or decision goal
  • Domain boundary

Concepts: Collect key concepts

  • Focus question
  • Sources and domain knowledge

Hierarchy: Build the hierarchy

  • Concept list
  • Focus question

Propositions: Write propositions

  • Concept hierarchy
  • Domain claims

Cross-links: Test cross-links

  • Labelled map
  • Sources and questions

Concept Map · Worksheet

Focus question

What open question should the map answer, in what context?

...

Concepts

Which 15 to 25 terms are central, and which are more general or specific?

...

Propositions

Which concepts connect through what linking phrase to form a meaningful statement?

...

Cross-links

Which relationship across branches adds explanatory meaning?

...

Revision

Which propositions are uncertain, redundant or open? Which source or person can resolve them?

...

Leave examples blank. Record every proposition as concept, linking phrase, concept.

Novak & Cañas: Theory Underlying Concept Maps

Focus: Refine the focus question

Expected artifact: Focus question

Question, context and purpose

Entry:

...

  • Can the completed map be read as an answer?

Concepts: Collect key concepts

Expected artifact: Ordered concept list

Short, unambiguous labels

Entry:

...

  • Does each card name a concept rather than a statement?
  • Are the most inclusive concepts present?

Hierarchy: Build the hierarchy

Expected artifact: Concept hierarchy

Levels and clusters

Entry:

...

  • Does placement express a meaningful generalisation?
  • Does the hierarchy remain tied to the focus question?

Propositions: Write propositions

Expected artifact: Labelled propositions

Concept, linking phrase, concept

Entry:

...

  • Does every connection form a meaningful statement?
  • Is edge direction explicit?

Cross-links: Test cross-links

Expected artifact: Revised Concept Map

Cross-links, open questions and version

Entry:

...

  • Does each cross-link create new meaning?
  • Are uncertain statements visibly marked?

Open questions and next steps

...

Method guide: https://methodatlas.meierhoff-systems.de/en/methods/concept-mapping/run-sheet

06

Example output

Concrete filled scenario, fictional example

Fictional example for orientation. Counts and timings describe this case and are not universal requirements.

concept-mapping-beispiel.md

Concrete filled scenario, fictional example

Fictional example

Focus question: How is a reliable course-booking confirmation produced?

Propositions: “Booking request is checked against participation rules.” “Participation rules include capacity and corporate seat limit.” “Valid check creates reservation.” “Reservation triggers confirmation.”

Cross-link: “Corporate seat limit constrains capacity” connects contract logic and seat management.

Open question: When does an unpaid reservation expire? The relationship remains marked until resolved.

07

Pitfalls

Recognize symptoms and steer against them

Quick overview, the full text is in the matching phase in the flow

  1. Refine the focus questionThe heading only names a topic.View in phase
  2. Collect key conceptsCards contain sentences or activities.View in phase
  3. Build the hierarchyThe map is only sorted as a process sequence.View in phase
  4. Write propositionsLines indicate proximity but no meaning.View in phase
  5. Test cross-linksExtra cross-links increase density without clarity.View in phase
08

Stop criteria

When to pause, resolve prerequisites, or choose another approach

The focus question remains too broad or merely topical.
Core propositions cannot be checked against a source or domain expertise.

Where to go next?

Paper illustration for Knowledge Mapping.
Knowledge Modeling
Knowledge Mapping

Links the revised concept map into the overarching knowledge map.

Paper illustration for Domain Context Map
Domain Modeling
Domain Context Map

Carries the clarified terms and relations into domain-specific model boundaries.

View in playbookPrepare Knowledge ModelingMove from a knowledge domain to questions, concept model, schema, and validation rules.

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