Group concept mapping

This chapter describes the method of group concept mapping, which is a flexible, stakeholder engaged, multi-step, mixed-methods approach to organizing ideas within a conceptual domain. The process generally involves individuals identifying key concepts within a domain of inquiry, organizing those concepts into themes that make sense to them, and rating them along critical dimensions such as relative importance. Specific steps include planning, item generation/identification, item synthesis, grouping, rating, representing, interpreting and utilization. Item generation/identification often involves a literature review and individual and stakeholder input. Synthesis involves clarification and eliminating redundancies among items. Stakeholders group and rate items asynchronously using an online survey. Then, items are represented in clusters based on groupings; ratings are represented in plots. Stakeholders then select, interpret and label clusters. Finally, stakeholders consider how the project’s output will be utilized. Group concept mapping has been used in implementation research studies, including identifying a common language for implementation strategies.