Concept mapping is a mixed method research method that allows the quantitative analysis of qualitative data. This method is popular in program evaluation, however, it has been used in the field of social sciences as it allows to explore an area of research in a more organised way. According to Trochim (1989), there are five steps that a researcher follows while following concept mapping as a method for social science research. First, a specific questions is posed to a number of participants and responses are collected. Second, responses are edited for clarity and redundant responses are removed. Third, responses are returned to participants and are asked to group them together into concepts. Fourth, the groupings made by participants are analysed using multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis procedures. Finally, the groupings made by the participants are combined and most significant clusters are selected for the final concept map. The decisions are made on the basis of statistical and conceptual fit.
It seems like a mixed method research not because it follows some traditional statistical tools such as t test and z test. But because of its inherent quality of being positivist rather than following the principle of construction of new knowledge subjectively. As the researcher counts the concepts repeated and and grouped it looks like a quantitative one. It is a mixed method because it is quantitative in process but qualitative in content. (I will change this post when i will have more information on concept mapping as a research method)
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