In constructing a concept map, the aim is to find essential concepts of a topic and their relationships. The goal is to find clear concepts and relationships that can be described with one or at the most few words.
Usually, the concept map cannot be finished on one session. Drawing a map is a learning process where concepts and relationships are added, deleted or changed. Especially, concidering the relationships can lead to changes of chosen concepts: noun is substituted with corresponding verb or adjective, general term to special term etc. Several terms can actually refer to one concept or different uses of a term can show up to be different concepts.
- 1. Each concept should appear only once
None of the concepts should appear more than once in a concept map. This include also synonyms: one term must be chosen to be in use. When same concept is refered from different parts of the map, several relationships to it are formed.
If each concept appears only once, its role and centricity is evident even at first glance on the map when the reader has not yet understood every concept and relationship of the map.
- 2. Try to form a uniform map
The map should not have parts that are not related to other parts of the map, on the contrary, the map should be coherent. Each concept should be in somewhat meaningfully related to the other concepts of the map.
Totally unconnected concept means that the content is not understood )or the concept does not belong to the map). Finding this kind of concept means that the area needs further studies or more orginizing.
- 3. Use conceptual, not linguistic relations
Concept map presents conceptual relations between concepts. Linguistic relationships should be avoided. Typical linguistic relations are named with word such as "and", "or", "but",...
Conceptual realtions between two concepts should be readable as a sentence. Linguistic relations do not form meaningful sentences.
- 4. Include also concrete, evocative concepts
Depending of the topic area, concept map can include abstract or concrete concepts. Abstract concepts are not usually avoidable but drawer should take care that the map include also concrete concepts where a mental picture can be connected. This ease understand the content of the map, remembering it, and communicating with others.
- 5. Use concrete and informative names for relations
Avoid too general and vague names for relations. If a relation is named as "relate" or "is/has", specifying is needed: how the concepts are related (e.g. "consequence", "part", "opposite",...) or how something is something (e.g. "has color", "is type of", "has profession",...).
This is a common mistake in concept maps. It leads to spineless and indefinable maps.
- 6. Avoid adjectives
Avoid unnecessary adjectives. Try use nouns and verbs instead. For example, "assertive chairman" should be diveded into parts and concidered, what kind of actions "assertive" means.
- 7. Try to find a clear, structuring theme for the map
While constructing a map and positioning the concept, the structuring theme or point of view should be considered. The most common principles for positioning are
More common (wider) concepts are on top and more special concepts are below them(Joseph Novak)
The most essential concept is in the middle and less essential concepts are in the edge of the map
Two concepts that are somewhat contradictory are on opposite sides of the map (top/down or left/right)
Concepts form a loop of interaction e.g. describing a dynamic process of a theme (for example information seeking and organizing process picture)
The map should have a clear structure. Above mentioned are examples and their applicability for the theme should be considered carefully.
- 8. Divide the theme to partial maps that all answer to a certain question
Each concept map should answer to a question. Concepts may divide to relative independent fields that can form separate maps. Dividing maps can be facilitated by dividing the original question to a set of more clear and defined questions.
Seppo Törmä's and Esko Nuutila's orginal page What is a good concept map (in Finnish).
