Preparing a Concept Map

Prepare a Concept Map
You may already be familiar with the mind-mapping, which is a visual presentation of information in which you have one general idea from which you branch off into multiple directions. It is a great way to brainstorm possible topics. Mind maps focus more on your thoughts regarding how things might relate.
A concept map shares the common bond of visual presentation with a mind map. But a concept map in dissertation planning assists in organizing knowledge garnered through your scholarly literature searches. Rather than a map of your thoughts, you are actually mapping what is known about a concept.
A concept map uses a hierarchical format in which general concepts are at the top of the map and more specific concepts are then presented below generally in order of most important to least. The connector lines include keywords or phrases, even quotes perhaps, which summarize the relationship between the concepts they connect. Connections in a concept map, unlike in a mind map, depict more complex and different relationships between topics.
Be sure to review this week’s resources carefully. You are expected to apply the information from these resources when you prepare your assignments.

To put your concept map together effectively, start with your topic. Pick one of the three topics from the previous assignments from week 1 and 2. I will attach the assignments from week 1 and 2. From there, and reviewing your literature, determine the key concepts. Then begin linking the concepts. Finally, connect the concepts, creating key phrases and words.
How to Create a Concept Map in Word
You can use Word to create a concept map. To do so, open a Word document. Then go to Insert and select Shapes. Next, click new drawing canvas. Next, return to Insert and select Shapes. Here you will choose a box. Then, you then can stretch the box to whatever size you like. Next, go to Insert, then select Text Box. Click inside the box, and then begin typing. You will link the concept boxes using Insert, Shapes, and Lines. To connect concepts, once you have selected your line format, click on the first box and then on the second box. Continue to repeat these steps until you have your concept map in place. Remember to save the file when you are finished. You also can download a free template from Microsoft Word and then insert additional shapes as needed.
Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) as a Mapping Tool
Another visual representation format that you may find helpful in creating a concept map is based upon Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). SEM, or causal modeling, is a statistical technique that allows researchers to compare multivariate models. While you are working with concepts and ideas in this course, and not statistics, you may find the general format of SEM useful as another approach in mapping relationships between concepts and ideas.
Concepts that are still largely undefined are placed in circles or ovals. The tools used to measure them are placed in boxes and unidirectional arrows are placed from the circles pointing to the boxed measures indicating that the concepts in boxes are manifest variables. Single-headed arrows can also be drawn from concepts in ovals to other ovals indicating that there may be a “causal” relationship from one concept to another. Double-sided arrows may also be drawn if the relationships between concepts are correlational. In this way, the paths of the arrows can help in the conceptualization of the relationships among variables at an early stage.
For an overview of SEM, review the tutorial located under your weekly resources, called The Basics of Structural Equation Modeling.
Assignment
Your task this week is to build a concept map using just one of the topics you have examined so far in this class.
Next, continue your literature search, locating at least five new scholarly sources published within the last 5 years to ensure your topic is timely.
If you find you are having trouble locating scholarly resources for your topic, you might have to consider expanding your topic or looking at how the topic was studied in other fields. Remember that besides searching the online databases, search through the reference lists of the articles that you have already obtained to locate potential additional resources (see citation chaining in Phelps, Fisher, & Ellis, 2007). As you continue to build your scholarly sources, remember to evaluate the worthiness of each peer-reviewed source and decide whether to include it in your review (use your critical reading and evaluation skills).
Once you have gathered your new scholarly sources (you should have 10 new sources so far in the course), begin to build your concept map to help you further organize your literature review. Generate lists of topic headings (or themes/categories) using a concept map as suggested in the readings for this week.
You should aim to identify at least three to five themes. Think about your potential dissertation topic, the brief literature review paper that is due later in the course, and the literature you have identified. Then, select the themes accordingly. The goal is to help you organize the literature so that when you begin to write the literature review, you can write in a more efficient and organized manner.
Length: 2 pages (minimum; one page should be the concept map, the second page should be the reference page in APA format.
Your concept map and reference list should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts presented in the course by providing new thoughts and insights relating directly to this topic. Your response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards. Be sure to adhere to University’s Academic Integrity Policy