Concept mapping as a promising method to bring practice into science

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Policy
• Knowledge Management

Background:

• Concept mapping visually represents complex topics for evaluation and planning.
• It involves stakeholders in defining the content of conceptual frameworks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore concept mapping as a tool for integrating practical and scientific knowledge.
• To enhance theory development for sound public health decision-making.

Main Methods:

• Description of five Dutch public health studies utilizing concept mapping.
• Studies covered theoretical frameworks, implementation strategies, evaluation, and program conceptualization.

Main Results:

• Concept mapping successfully integrates diverse knowledge perspectives.
• It improves theory development by clarifying key issues and relationships, not by creating new theories.
• Resulting concept maps provided a sound basis for practical decision-making in most studies.

Conclusions:

• Concept mapping is valuable for evidence-based public health policy.
• It fosters collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.
• Public health theory development is advanced by integrating scientific and practical knowledge, though external validity requires consideration.