A brief research note on the cognitive mapping-based literature review (CMBLR) approach

A brief research note on the cognitive mapping-based literature review (CMBLR) approach

Joseph Kim-keung Ho

Independent Trainer

Hong Kong, China

Abstract: By reflecting on the writer's experience of conducting literature review with  the cognitive mapping technique, he explains in details the cognitive mapping-based literature review (CMBLR) approach. In the discussion, the intellectual context of the CMBLR approach is explicitly associated to the subjects of diagramming-based literature review and managerial intellectual learning. In this respect, the intellectual  context of this approach is clarified. On the whole, this account of the CMBLR approach offers some practical and academic values to those who are interested in the subjects of diagramming-based literature review, literature review and managerial intellectual learning.

Key words: the cognitive mapping-based literature review (CMBLR) approach, diagramming-based literature review, literature review, managerial intellectual learning

Introduction

Using diagramming techniques to facilitate literature review in research works has been described in research methods literature for some quite time, e.g., Saunders et al. (2012: 96-97). [For information about the topic of literature review, refer to the Literature on literature review Facebook page). Over the last two years, this writer has also been studying the topic of diagramming-based literature review, e.g., Ho (2016) within the broader academic interest on managerial intellectual learning (see, the Managerial intellectual learning Facebook page). Specifically, a number of papers have been produced to report on how mind mapping has been used in literature review (see the Literature on mind mapping Facebook page). This research note examines cognitive mapping as another diagramming technique for literature review. (Information about cognitive mapping can be found on the Literature on cognitive mapping Facebook page.) It elaborates on an approach based on cognitive mapping to conduct literature review. The approach is called the cognitive mapping-based literature review (CMBLR) approach. The details of it are presented in the next section.

A description of the cognitive mapping-based literature review approach

Drawing on the recent experience of using cognitive mapping by the writer to perform literature review, he formulates the cognitive mapping-based literature review (CMBLR) approach as follows:

Step 1: gather a number of ideas and findings (labelled as points) from the academic literature on the topic under review. The set of points collected is incorporated into a table of them (labelled as table 1) with explicit referencing. In the writer's cognitive  mapping exercises, the number of points identified is around 25 and this step 1 takes 1 man-day to perform. To enable this step to be carried out, the writer needs to do some literature search on the topic under review via university e-libraries and Google Scholar.

Step 2: produce a set of cognitive map variables based on a review of the points recorded in table 1; and compile a table as table 2 of these variables with clear referencing to the table 1 points. From the writer's experience of practice on step 2, around 6 variables are identified in the following areas: (1) trends and driving forces on the topic under review, (2) improved conceptual understanding on the topic, (3) effective practices related to the topic, (4) outcomes of practices related to the topic and (5) Learning from practices as related to the topic. The main points related to each cognitive map variables are not necessarily compatible in ideas, thus conveying an intellectual field full of diverse perspectives and competing viewpoints.

Step 3: Link up, in a plausible way, the cognitive map variables to form a cognitive map as Figure 1. In this respect, the cognitive map variables are linked up to form a systemic cause-effect diagram with some action and impact implications.

In a nutshell, the cognitive mapping-based literature review (CMBLR) approach comprises 3 steps and 3 deliverables, i.e. Table 1 (on literature review points), Table 2 (on cognitive map variables) and Figure 1 (on the cognitive map). Examples of these steps and deliverables can be found  in the Literature on cognitive mapping Facebook page. The whole literature review approach endorses cognitive mapping thinking as explained in its academic literature (see Ho, 2017). This implies that the CMBLR approach is interpretive, cause-effect focused and sensitive to actions and impacts  implications, among others.

The CMBLR  approach has been applied to study corporate social responsibility, service quality, service recovery, cognitive mapping, cultural heritage management, creativity and homelessness, see the Literature on cognitive mapping Facebook page for details. Thus, there are already a number of published works to illustrate its application.

Concluding remarks

The cognitive mapping-based literature review (CMBLR) approach, being a new member of technique in the subject of diagramming-based literature review (Ho, 2016), adds to the arsenal of the subject. Its characteristics and steps are somewhat different from that of another diagramming-based literature review approach called the mind mapping-based literature review (MMBLR) approach (see the Literature on mind mapping Facebook page). for this reason, by comparing the two literature review approaches, i.e. the CMBLR and the MMBLR approaches, one can gain a better understanding of them both. For examples, regarding the mapping works of the writer, the knowledge structure of cognitive map is systemic in structure while that of the mind map is tree in structure; in addition, the cognitive map produced with the CMBLR is based on systems thinking and possesses around 6 variables. As to the MMBLR approach, it is grounded  on radiant thinking and comprises more than 30 end-notes.  Also, the CMBLR approach is more attentive to points  from the academic literature that contribute to a  cause-effect image on the knowledge structure of a topic than the MMBLR approach.

The CMBLR approach provides practical and academic values to those who are interested in diagramming-based literature review, literature review (re: the Literature on literature review Facebook page) and managerial intellectual learning (re: Managerial intellectual learning Facebook page). Finally, this research note should be informative to readers so that they are more capable to comprehend the existing and future published works on the CMBLR approach.

Bibliography

1.      Ho, J.K.K. 2016. "A conceptual framework on diagramming-based literature review" Joseph KK Ho e-resources blog September 9 (url address: http://josephho33.blogspot.hk/2016/09/a-conceptual-framework-on-diagramming.html) [visited at April 21, 2017].

2.      Ho, J.K.K. 2017. "Cognitive mapping the topic of the cognitive mapping technique" Joseph KK Ho e-resources blog April 16 (url address: http://josephho33.blogspot.hk/2017/04/cognitive-mapping-topic-of-cognitive.html) [visited at April 21, 2017].

3.      Literature on cognitive mapping Facebook page, maintained by Joseph, K.K. Ho (url address: https://www.facebook.com/Literature-on-cognitive-mapping-800894476751355/).

4.      Literature on literature review Facebook page, maintained by Joseph, K.K. Ho (url address: https://www.facebook.com/literature.literaturereview/).

5.      Literature on mind mapping Facebook page, maintained by Joseph, K.K. Ho (url address: https://www.facebook.com/literature.mind.mapping/).

6.      Managerial intellectual learning Facebook page, maintained by Joseph, K.K. Ho (url address: https://www.facebook.com/managerial.intellectual.learning/).

7.      Saunders, M., P. Lewis and A. Thornhill. 2012. Research Methods for Business Students, Pearson, Harlow, England.