Group concept mapping for health professions education scholarship

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education Research
• Mixed Methods Research
• Conceptual Model Development

Background:

• Explicit conceptual models are crucial for informing research but are underutilized in health professions education (HPE).
• A lack of understanding regarding rigorous development methods may contribute to their limited use.
• Group Concept Mapping (GCM) is a mixed methods approach suitable for creating explicit conceptual models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe Group Concept Mapping (GCM) and enhance its accessibility for HPE scholars.
• To illustrate the systematic and inclusive process of GCM for developing conceptual models.
• To highlight the potential of GCM in advancing HPE research methodologies.

Main Methods:

• The article details seven steps of GCM: brainstorming, preparation, sorting, point mapping, cluster interpretation, map summarization, and reporting.
• It draws upon existing literature and practical experience with GCM.
• Comparative analysis with other conceptualization methods is included.

Main Results:

• GCM systematically combines multiple stakeholder perspectives to generate explicit conceptual models.
• The seven-step process provides a structured framework for developing these models.
• Illustrative examples from HPE studies demonstrate GCM's application.

Conclusions:

• Group Concept Mapping (GCM) is a valuable and accessible methodology for HPE researchers.
• Its systematic, inclusive, and diverse approach aligns well with contemporary HPE scholarship.
• GCM can significantly contribute to the development of robust theoretical and conceptual frameworks in practice.