From textual to visual: the use of concept mapping as an analytical tool in a grounded theory study

Abstract

Dealing with a large amount of qualitative data during the analytical process can be challenging especially when the data needs to be regularly discussed with other research team members. For researchers employing grounded theory methodology and methods, using visual tools such as concept maps or diagrams can be a beneficial approach at all phases of the research. Concept maps can assist researchers to visualize emerging concepts from raw data, efficiently communicate the developing theory under construction and demonstrate progress in the analytical thinking process. However, despite the usefulness of concept mapping, there is limited and detailed information on the use of concept mapping to guide novice researchers. This research presents the distinctive experiences of the authors in utilizing concept mapping to facilitate the analytical process of theory generation they undertook when conducting a grounded theory study examining diabetes health education in an Indonesian context. It is recommended that researchers consider the flexibility and efficacy of concept mapping as a tool to assist them with the process of data analysis in qualitative research.