Newly Released Book Features Group Concept Mapping

Dr. Jessica Burke and Dr. Steven Albert (Eds.) from the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public Health recently published a book titled "Methods for Community Public Health Research: Integrated and Engaged Approaches," which includes a chapter on group concept mapping.  As explained in the book, group concept mapping is an ideal method for community health research because it is "inherently participatory in nature...Participants are involved at every step of the concept mapping process - from the project design and implementation to data analysis and dissemination (pg. 172)."  Dr. Burke is a long-time concept mapper, and the University of Pittsburgh is part of CSI's Centers of Practice Program.  For more information and to purchase the book, click here. 

New Group Concept Mapping Publication in Psychomusicology Journal

Group concept mapping can be used to gather and organize ideas from diverse groups on a variety of topics.  Iwan Wopereis, Slavi Stoyanov, et al. recently published an article in Psychomusicology: Music, Mind, and Brain titled "What makes a good musical improviser? An expert view on improvisational expertise."  The authors used group concept mapping to gather input from 26 renowned musical experts on key characteristics of improvisational expertise.  The final 7-cluster map included clusters on self-regulation, basic/musical skills, affect, risk-taking, creation, responsivity, and ideal.  The results of the project may have implications on future musical instruction.  To view the full abstract, click here. 

New Group Concept Mapping Publication on Cancer Treatment and Exercise

Sean Joseph Fitzpatrick and Sam Zizzi recently published an article in the American Journal of Health Education titled "Using Concept Mapping to Identify Action Steps for Physical Activity Promotion in Cancer Treatment."  Fitzpatrick and Zizzi used group concept mapping to gather ideas from both researchers and oncologists on how to incorporate exercise as part of the standard cancer care following treatment.  As explained, current research suggests that many cancer survivors have lower activity levels following diagnosis, and many oncologists are not promoting physical activity.  Group concept mapping helped the groups better understand and address gaps between research and practice.  To view the full article, click here. 

Intro Webinar Series is Now Free

We are now offering our Introduction to Group Concept Mapping two-part webinar series free of charge!  The webinars were developed for those who are new to group concept mapping, and they provide an interactive overview of the group concept mapping methodology and its potential uses.  Participants get hands-on experience using the newly updated CS Global MAXTM software, and they get to ask questions about their potential projects.  The next webinar series is March 4 and 11 from 3:00-4:30pm EST.  For more information and to sign up, click here. 

New CSI Staff Publication in Quality of Life Research

CSI's Senior Consultant, Dr. Scott Rosas, recently co-authored a publication in Quality of Life Research titled "Conceptualizing and prioritizing clinical trial outcomes from the perspective of people with Parkinson's disease versus health care professionals: a concept mapping study" (Hammarlund et al., 2013). In the study, group concept mapping was used to gather and compare the perspectives of people with Parkinson's disease and health care professionals on priority areas for outcome measurement in Parkinson's disease clinical trials.  Although there were many similarities between the two groups, the study underlines the importance of understanding the perspective of people with Parkinson's disease to ensure meaningful and interpretable clinical trial results.  To view the article, click here. 

New CSI Staff Publication in Journal of Informetrics

Alyssa Goldman, Client Services Consultant, recently published an article in the Journal of Informetrics entitled "Conceptualizing the interdisciplinary diffusion and evolution of emerging fields: the case of systems biology." In the article, Alyssa presents a methodological approach for considering how a new field diffuses to diverse disciplines.  Using a combination of network and cluster analyses, Alyssa suggests a means for identifying a diffusion structure and then classifying journals based on the extent to which they sustain various features of that structure.  To view the article abstract, click here. 

Group Concept Mapping Presentation at NAPCRG

Dr. Lara Carson Weinstein, Assistant Professor at Thomas Jefferson University, recently presented at the North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG) Annual Meeting on her breast cancer screening research using group concept mapping.  Dr. Weinstein's presentation, titled "Exploring Barriers and Facilitators to Breast Cancer Screening in Formerly Homeless Women With Serious Mental Illness Through Concept Mapping," discussed the use of group concept mapping as a means of gathering information from this severely marginalized population. 

Participants included 27 formerly homeless women with severe mental illness, and they rated past experience with breast cancer risk factors and use of support systems as the most important factors for obtaining a mammogram, and comfort/motivation as the most feasible factor to address.  The results of this study will be used to create breast cancer screening and prevention interventions for women and their support staff.  For more information about Dr. Weinstein's presentation (Session Number CR11), click here. 

Happy Holidays from CSI

 

New CSI Publication with DAIDS, NIAID

CSI's Dr. Scott Rosas and Marie Cope co-authored a paper titled "Assessing the challenges of multi-scope clinical research sites: an example from NIH HIV/AIDS clinical trials networks," which was recently published in the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice (online publication November 13, 2013).  The study examined the use of multi-network clinical research sites as a means of gaining efficiency and capacity for the networks, and the associated challenges with multi- versus single-network sites.  

The paper is a result of CSI's multi-year collaborative evaluation work with the Division of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (DAIDS) at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the Office of HIV/AIDS Network Coordination (HANC).  To view the full abstract, click here. 

Connect to CSI through Social Media

Did you know that CSI is on other social media platforms?  Make sure you like us on Facebook, connect with us on Linkedin, and follow us on Twitter.  And don't forget to visit our group concept mapping Wiki page.  Now there are more ways to stay in touch with us and to meet other group concept mappers.  Visit our pages and tell us about your recent experiences with group concept mapping.  We can't wait to hear from you!

COP Member Presents at NAPCRG 2013

This week a member of CSI's Centers of Practice© (COP) Program, Dr. Chris Morley, presented a group concept mapping project at the North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG) Annual Meeting in Ottawa.  The project, titled "Essential Public Health Competencies for Medical Trainees: Establishing a Consensus," used group concept mapping to gather input from diverse stakeholders across the country on key public health competencies for physicians-in-training.  The project was supported by the Society for Teachers of Family Medicine's Group on Public Health Education (Chair Dr. Jake Prunuske), and the results will be used to determine the most critical public health training to incorporate into undergraduate and post-graduate medical curricula. 

Dr. Morley is an Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Family Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University and his research focuses on health disparities.  To view Dr. Morley's latest conference highlights on Twitter, click here.

Group Concept Mapping Highlights at APHA

Want to know what's happening at the American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting right now?  Here's a photo of Dr. Lynda Anderson in front of her poster presentation on the use of group concept mapping to design an integrated framework for the CDC's Healthy Aging Mobility Project. 

For the latest updates, you can follow APHA conference highlights on Twitter or Facebook (search "#apha13").  Here's what conference participants are saying about CSI: "ConceptSysInc provides a way to facilitate concept mapping online!" @LindaVoGreen and "Looks really cool!" @SEAFacil.

Getting Ready for APHA: Group Concept Mapping for Public Health and Health Care

Going to APHA next week?  CSI has compiled a comprehensive bibliography of public health and health care research applications of group concept mapping for research, advocacy and planning.  We’re posting it here, for you to have before the conference.  Additionally, click here, for more group concept mapping topical bibliographies.

Come visit us at Booth #934, for more information on group concept mapping and how it can support your own research.  See you there!  

Intro Webinar November 6 & 13

New to group concept mapping?  Want to know how it works?  The next Introduction to Group Concept Mapping two-part webinar series is quickly approaching - November 6 and 13 from 3:00-4:30 pm EST.  This two-session webinar is an interactive overview of the group concept mapping methodology and its potential uses, and participants get hands-on experience with the newly updated CS Global MAXTM software. 

Here's what a recent participant had to say about it: "It was super informative and interesting!  Thanks for the support."  For more information and to sign up, click here.

CSI at APHA November 2-6

Are you going to the next American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting in Boston from November 2-6?  If so, check out CSI's exhibit booth (#934) to find out how group concept mapping can be an effective tool for your next public health planning and evaluation project.  CSI's Brenda Pepe and Alyssa Goldman will run demos of our newly updated group concept mapping software, CS Global MAXTM.  And it's our 20th birthday!  Alyssa and Brenda will be handing out 20% off coupons for our products and services - our gift to you.  For more information about our exhibit both at the APHA Annual Meeting, click here.

Software Demos at AEA Conference

Look for CSI's tech wizard Mike Huffman, Associate Manager of Operations, at our American Evaluation Association (AEA) Conference exhibit booth this week.  Mike will run demos of our latest CS Global MaxTM group concept mapping software.  Come see the newest advances in terms of its ease of use and enhanced visuals, like graphic comparisons of different map solutions, participant reports, and simple participant input pages.  So far, two demos have been scheduled on October 18 at 11:50am and 4:15pm, immediately following presentations by CSI's Brenda Pepe and Dr. Scott Rosas.  Additional demos are available by request.  And while you're at our exhibit booth, don't forget to pick up your 20% off coupons for our products and services as part of CSI's 20th birthday celebration.    

CSI Presenting with New Knowledge at AEA

CSI's Brenda Pepe will contribute to a panel discussion on Collective Evaluation Efforts to Integrate Environmental and STEM Topics towards E-STEM Practice at the American Evaluation Association (AEA) Conference in Washington, DC on October 18 at 11am.  Dr. Rupu Gupta and Dr. John Fraser, leading researchers at New Knowledge Organization, will describe their use of group concept mapping to identify and organize emerging trends and gaps in environmental education and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) with the goal of shaping the future of E-STEM.  Ms. Pepe will highlight the techniques of applying group concept mapping to frame the results and support the collaborative evaluation.  New Knowledge Organization is a non-profit research institute that "works to expand the understanding of how knowledge is acquired and acted upon."

While you're at AEA, don't forget to visit our exhibit booth where we are giving away 20% off coupons for our products and services in celebration of our 20th anniversary. 

Idea Synthesis Webinar October 7

You've asked and we've answered.  Based on client demand, CSI has added another Idea Synthesis Webinar to its schedule--coming up soon, on October 7 from 9:30am to 11:30am EST.  If you're conducting a group concept mapping project now or in the near future, you may want to join us so that you are ahead of the game when you need to synthesize the statements in preparation for the important structuring and rating activities.  Idea synthesis is a critical component of group concept mapping, and it involves qualitative analyses to synthesize the brainstormed ideas into a manageable set of statements that "saturate" the topic of your project; sorting and rating follow. 

During this interactive, two-hour webinar, you'll learn the major steps and best practices of the idea synthesis process, and we will answer your project-specific questions.  CSI's webinar series provide a cost effective and efficient way to learn more about group concept mapping.  Click here to sign up today!

CSI Presentation to CDC's OSH

Last week CSI's President and CEO, Mary Kane, virtually "visited" the CDC's Office on Smoking and Health (OSH).  She talked with 30 program managers from all over the country about group concept mapping as a relevant and effective methodology for program planning and evaluation at their CDC-funded sites.  Sharing some close-to-home examples, Mary described the approach and the tools that support it, demonstrating the ease with which a conceptual framework developed through group concept mapping can become the foundation for an extensive evaluation.  Here's what one participant had to say about it:  "I love the concept mapping evaluation method, and plan to preview the Kane/Trochim resource."

CSI is available to talk with any group about our work and how we might support your research.  For more information about our products and services, including our online and in-person training options, click here.  

Basic and Advance Training Highlights

This week CSI welcomes trainees from all over the world for our in-person group concept mapping trainings in Ithaca, NY.  Those in attendance for this round of Basic and Advanced Trainings include practitioners, academics, and graduate students working in the fields of social work and occupational therapy.  Here's what they have to say so far about our trainings: "Excellent - great overview," "Loved the smaller size, allowed for one and one interchange," "Good - interactive sessions," "Advanced analysis presented in an understandable way."  Click here to find out which of our in-person and online training options are best for you!