Mind Mapping for Research

Simon Elichko (they/them)

Social Sciences & Data Librarian

Examples of researchers' mind maps

• Brainstorming and breaking down a research topic into smaller questions
  • Hunger in rural Washington state
  • Feminist theology
  • Gender and power in the doctor-patient relationship
     
• Note-taking
  • Lucy Hargrave, PhD student in humanities note-taking on individual works
  • Organizing factual information about a topic: The Wire Season 3
     
• Presenting information
  • Research questions
  • Literature review: Examples in multiple subjects (student team, University of Manchester Library)

Some research-related uses for mind maps

• Note-taking
  • Your notes on a reading, an episode, a lecture
  • Could take notes on a handful of related readings
  • Outlining and summarizing (key points, quotes)
  • Reacting and building on (your observations, questions, responses, etc.)
• Brainstorming
  • Clarifying your interests and exploring a topic
  • Breaking down your topic into smaller, more manageable components
• Organizing a project
  • Creating a visual plan of your work
  • Grouping and sorting literature, questions, findings, etc.
• Presenting ideas
  • Visually representing your literature review
  • Highlighting key findings, arguments, evidence

One tool for mind mapping: Coggle

Accessing Coggle

• To access, go to coggle.it
   
• You can sign in with your Swarthmore Google account or a personal Google account (an Apple or Microsoft account works too)
   
• Free to use all basic features. Can create up to 3 private mind maps and unlimited public ones.

How to create a mind map in Coggle

1. Create a new diagram
2. Enter something into the first node
   (gray box in center)
3. Add a new branch (hover for plus sign)
4. Label the new node
5. Add secondary branches

Node: Your name

Branch: Favorite foods

Secondary branches: Examples of your favorite foods

Making changes to your mind map