Backing
up mindmapping
Buzan
Online has responded to criticism of a lack of academic studies showing the
efficacy of mindmapping with a list of references on this page. None of the
papers are linked to there, it's just a plain text list (Why Mr. Buzan? If you
claim "The Proof is Here!", don't you think that transparency is
called for?). So WikIT has done the work for them by, as far as we can,
gathering the links here for review. Mind mapping deserves academic backup as
solid as that of concept mapping, assuming studies of a sufficient standard to
provide evidence can be found, not just anecdotes.
But
before we look at that list, we need to consider "efficacy of
mindmapping" for what? Mindmapping, as this wiki shows, is used as a tool
in a wide range of activities. All the Buzan Online references focus on
learning and memory with no mention of the use of mind mapping for planning,
creativity, organizing information for reference, business
analysis and consulting,collaboration with
others, decision making, planning events, staff training, recruitment and
induction programs, strategic planning, preparations for detailed business
plans, goal setting, problem solving, prioritizing issues, setting up
management dashboards, writing, evaluating lessons learned, preparing for and
administering meetings,
planning, preparing and givingpresentations, project
management, planning courses and presenting material and planning
and re-organizing web sites.
Comments
are being added here from time to time, as the papers are read and the
conclusions reached extracted. Studies reaching contrary conclusions are shown.
Al-Jarf,
R. (2009), Enhancing Freshman students’ Writing Skills with a Mind
Mapping software. Paper presented at the 5th International
Scientific Conference, eLearning and Software for Education, Bucharest, April
2009. Full text available.
§ The author describes a study where students were divided into two
groups, one using mind maps (made with FreeMind and by hand) and one without.
You can read the paper but results given indicate measurable benefits to the
group using mind maps over those who did not.
§ It is unfortunate that in making the case for using mind maps, the
author quotes academic studies of concept map efficacy. The
term "concept map" appears 14 times but at no point does the
author acknowledge that concept maps and mind maps are not the same. This
does not inspire confidence.
Boyson,
G. (2009), The Use of Mind Mapping in Teaching and Learning. The
Learning Institute, Assignment 3. Not found on line.
Cain,
M. E. (2001/2002), Using Mind Maps to raise standards in literacy, improve
confidence and encourage positive attitudes towards learning.
Study conducted at Newchurch Community Primary School, Warrington.
D’Antoni,
A. V., and Pinto Zipp, G. (2005), Applications of the Mind Map Learning
Technique in Chiropractic Education. Journal of Chiropractic Education,
19:53-4. In April 2010, this was available in synopsis from http://www.journalchirohumanities.com/volume_13.htm but
it has now been removed.
Farrand,
P., Hussain, F. and Hennessy E. (2002), The efficacy of the ‘mind map’ study technique.
Medical Education, Vol. 36 (5), pp 426-431. Available in synopsis only.
Goodnough,
K. and Long, R. (2002), Mind Mapping: A Graphic Organizer for the Pedagogical
Toolbox. Science Scope, Vol. 25, No. 8, pp 20-24.
Goodnough,
K. and Woods, R. (2002), Student and Teacher Perceptions of Mind Mapping: A Middle
School Case Study. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of
American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, 1st to 5th April 2002.
Full text available.
§ The results given are subjective descriptions by students and two
researcher/teachers rather than any quantitative measure or independent
assessment. Mind mapping was used for a year, and most considered its use to be
positive. However, 95% of the students involved did not go on to use mind mapping
in subsequent years. The conclusion reached is that a sustained effort by
teaching staff is needed if students are to benefit long term.
Holland,
B., Holland, L. and Davies, J. (2003/2004), An investigation into the concept of Mind Mapping and the
use of Mind Mapping software to support and improve student academic
performance. Learning and Teaching Projects 2003/2004, pp 89-94.
Mento,
A. J., Martinelli, P. and Jones R. M. (1999), Mind Mapping in Executive Education: Applications and
Outcomes. The Journal of Management Development, Vol. 18, Issue
4. Free in synopsis with paid-for copy available. Synopsis contains hyperbole -
describing mind mapping as "a revolutionary system for capturing ideas and
insights".
Mueller,
A., Johnston, M. and Bligh, D. (2002), Joining Mind Mapping and Care Planning to Enhance Student
Critical Thinking and Achieve Holistic Nursing Care. Nursing
Diagnosis, 13, 1, pg. 24.
Paykoç,
F., Mengi, B., Kamay, P. O, Onkol, P., Ozgur, B., Pilli, O. and Yildirim, H.
(2004), What are the Major Curriculum Issues?: The Use of
MindMapping as a Brainstorming Exercise. Paper presented at the
First Int. Conference on Concept Mapping, Spain, 2004.
Ralston,
J. and Cook, D. (2007), Collaboration, ICT and Mind Mapping.
Reflecting Education, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp 61-73.
§ reports subjective descriptions by students and researcher- no
quantitative measures.
Toi,
H (2009), Research on how Mind Map improves Memory. Paper presented
at the International Conference on Thinking, Kuala Lumpur, 22nd to 26th June
2009. Not found on line.
Wai
Ling, C. (2004), The Effectiveness of Using Mind Mapping Skills in
Enhancing Secondary One and Secondary Four Students’ Writing in a CMI School.
University of Hong Kong, Masters dissertation, HKU Theses Online.
Zampetakis,
L. A., Tsironis, L. and Moustakis, V. (2007), Creativity Development in Engineering Education: The Case
of Mind Mapping. Journal of Management Development, Vol. 26, No.
4, pp 370-380.
Contrary
findings
In
January 2011, the journal Science published "Retrieval Practice Produces More Learning than
Elaborative Studying with Concept Mapping" (abstract). The New York Times wrote about this, providing
much more information than the abstract. The paper reports on experiments done
with 200 students (a much larger cohort than most of the studies above)
adopting a variety of learning methods. Those using mapping did not come out
best: "students who read a passage, then took a test asking them to recall
what they had read, retained about 50 percent more of the information a week
later than students who used two other methods." One of the 'other
methods' was concept mapping. The students who did not map, but just did a
recall test even did better when they were asked to draw a concept map from
memory.
What
would have been really interesting would have been to compare those who map
their study topics and did a retrieval test, against a control
group that did just a retrieval test.
Editor's notes: Others to be investigated
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