<p>From <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concept_map" rel="nofollow">wikipedia</a> :</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>A concept map or conceptual diagram is a diagram that depicts
  suggested relationships between concepts. It is a graphical tool that
  designers, engineers, technical writers, and others use to organize
  and structure knowledge.</p>
  
  <p>A concept map typically represents ideas and information as boxes or
  circles, which it connects with labeled arrows in a downward-branching
  hierarchical structure. The relationship between concepts can be
  articulated in linking phrases such as <em>causes, requires, or
  contributes to</em>. </p>
</blockquote>

<p>The technique was first developed in 1970's by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_D._Novak" rel="nofollow">Joseph D. Novak</a>. You can try one of his books e.g. <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0415991854" rel="nofollow">Learning, Creating, and Using Knowledge: Concept Maps as Facilitative Tools in Schools and Corporations</a> </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-19T12:13:42.030Z
2014-10-19T12:13:42.030Z
DesignerAnalyst
<p>I would like you to recommend me a definitive book about concept maps. I've been taking a look to a wide variety but none of them seemed clear to me.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-06T14:35:20.117Z
Could you mention books that you have not found helpful so far, so that people might identify things that you haven't seen yet?
Josh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-16T19:45:18.420Z
Also, what is a cognitive map and in what context are you examining them?
Seanny123
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-26T12:54:36.897Z
Concept mapping as I understand it, is a way to elicit the thought process of a person (or people) in a pseudo-scientific manner. You might want to modify this question to put in a reasonable definition of a concept map.
theMayer
<cognitive-psychology><terminology>
Concept maps. What exactly they are?
user6930
# Concept maps. What exactly they are?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-10-19)

I would like you to recommend me a definitive book about concept maps. I've been taking a look to a wide variety but none of them seemed clear to me.

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, terminology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Could you mention books that you have not found helpful so far, so that people might identify things that you haven't seen yet?  
> **username_2**: Also, what is a cognitive map and in what context are you examining them?  
> **username_3**: Concept mapping as I understand it, is a way to elicit the thought process of a person (or people) in a pseudo-scientific manner. You might want to modify this question to put in a reasonable definition of a concept map.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-10-19. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

From [wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concept_map) :

> A concept map or conceptual diagram is a diagram that depicts
> suggested relationships between concepts. It is a graphical tool that
> designers, engineers, technical writers, and others use to organize
> and structure knowledge.
>
> A concept map typically represents ideas and information as boxes or
> circles, which it connects with labeled arrows in a downward-branching
> hierarchical structure. The relationship between concepts can be
> articulated in linking phrases such as *causes, requires, or
> contributes to*.

The technique was first developed in 1970's by [Joseph D. Novak](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_D._Novak). You can try one of his books e.g. [Learning, Creating, and Using Knowledge: Concept Maps as Facilitative Tools in Schools and Corporations](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0415991854)


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