Mind mapping and pseudoscience

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Hyped up claims about mind mapping, using scientific-sounding terms, turn many people off the whole idea. Shame about that.


The claims[edit]

It’s a pity that some proponents of mind mapping have made claims that are not supported by evidence:

  • That 90% of our brain is unused (debunked[1])
  • “The way the brain fundamentally thinks is radiant, meaning that it thinks primarily from image centers, and then radiates out.” (Buzan[2]) What exactly does this mean?
  • That making a mind map “mirrors the way our brains naturally processes information” (MindJet[3])


Consider this quote from the MidJet web site[4]: “Visual thinking is our brain’s natural way to solve problems creatively.”

Undoubtedly many people find graphical or visual thinking helpful – there’s plenty of evidence of that on the web. But many do not. It is hard to see it unequivocally as “our brain’s natural way”.

We picture the problem and its various outcomes in our mind’s eye. Ancient humans doodled solutions to their problems on cave walls.”

Was it art? Was it a desire to express what was seen in a hunt or hoped for next time? Was it religious expression? Is there any hint that pictures of animals of the time, of hunters and of sprayed outlines of hands, were indeed attempts to think through problems? Who knows? Connecting it to mind mapping is not particularly convincing.

“But in today’s world — especially in business situations — we’re in the habit of making lists, outlines, and spreadsheets, using only one dimension of our brains.”

Is it clear how you use only one dimension of your brain? Especially if you’re making a spreadsheet.

And anyone with a background in IT, audit, consulting or process-control will be familiar with the extensive use of diagrams in business, quite apart from mind maps. So when talking about our habits, we need to consider whose habits we are referring to “in business situations”.

The result[edit]

The result of these doubtful claims is regrettable: skepticism, and bad-mouthing about mind mapping.

What a pity this is. Many people go on using mind maps year after year without fuss, without feeling the need to spread uncertain claims, because it works for them. Perhaps the sparsity of research on mind mapping’s benefits [5] draws proponents of mind mapping towards pseudoscientific claims especially when set against the richness of that supporting concept mapping [6] [7].

The part of WikIT concerned with information mapping sets out to show how useful mind mapping, concept mapping and other forms of mapping can be, which work in which situation, and gives real examples of these maps in use, rather than depending on hyperbole and pseudoscientific claims.

But things are improving[edit]

Buzan Online has responded to criticism like this with a list of references on this page. None of the papers are linked to there, so WikIT has done the work for them by gathering the links here for review. Mind mapping deserves academic backup as solid as that of concept mapping, assuming it has studies of a sufficient standard to provide evidence, and not just anecdotes.

Al-Jarf, R. (2009), Enhancing Freshman students’ Writing Skills with a Mind Mapping software. Paper presented at the 5th International Scientific Conference, eLearning and Software for Education, Bucharest, April 2009. Full text available.

  • The author describes a study where students were divided into two groups, one using mind maps (made with FreeMind) and one without. You can read the paper but results given indicate measurable benefits to the group using mind maps over those who did not.
  • It is unfortunate that in making the case for using mind maps, the author quotes academic studies of concept map efficacy. The term “concept map” appears 14 times but at no point does the author acknowledge that concept maps and mind maps are not the same.

Boyson, G. (2009),The Use of Mind Mapping in Teaching and Learning. The Learning Institute, Assignment 3. Not found on line.

Cain, M. E. (2001/2002), Using Mind Maps to raise standards in literacy, improve confidence and encourage positive attitudes towards learning. Study conducted at Newchurch Community Primary School, Warrington.

D’Antoni, A. V., and Pinto Zipp, G. (2005), Applications of the Mind Map Learning Technique in Chiropractic Education. Journal of Chiropractic Education, 19:53-4. Available in synopsis only.

Farrand, P., Hussain, F. and Hennessy E. (2002), The efficacy of the ‘mind map’ study technique. Medical Education, Vol. 36 (5), pp 426-431. Available in synopsis only.

Goodnough, K. and Long, R. (2002), Mind Mapping: A Graphic Organizer for the Pedagogical Toolbox. Science Scope, Vol. 25, No. 8, pp 20-24.

Goodnough, K. and Woods, R. (2002), Student and Teacher Perceptions of Mind Mapping: A Middle School Case Study. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, 1st to 5th April 2002. Full text available.

Holland, B., Holland, L. and Davies, J. (2003/2004), An investigation into the concept of Mind Mapping and the use of Mind Mapping software to support and improve student academic performance. Learning and Teaching Projects 2003/2004, pp 89-94.

Mento, A. J., Martinelli, P. and Jones R. M. (1999), Mind Mapping in Executive Education: Applications and Outcomes. The Journal of Management Development, Vol. 18, Issue 4. Free in synopsis with paid-for copy available. Synopsis contains hyperbole – describing mind mapping as “a revolutionary system for capturing ideas and insights”.

Mueller, A., Johnston, M. and Bligh, D. (2002), Joining Mind Mapping and Care Planning to Enhance Student Critical Thinking and Achieve Holistic Nursing Care. Nursing Diagnosis, 13, 1, pg. 24.

Paykoç, F., Mengi, B., Kamay, P. O, Onkol, P., Ozgur, B., Pilli, O. and Yildirim, H. (2004), What are the Major Curriculum Issues?: The Use of MindMapping as a Brainstorming Exercise. Paper presented at the First Int. Conference on Concept Mapping, Spain, 2004.

Toi, H (2009), Research on how Mind Map improves Memory. Paper presented at the International Conference on Thinking, Kuala Lumpur, 22nd to 26th June 2009. Not found on line.

Wai Ling, C. (2004), The Effectiveness of Using Mind Mapping Skills in Enhancing Secondary One and Secondary Four Students’ Writing in a CMI School. University of Hong Kong, Masters dissertation, HKU Theses Online.

Other References[edit]


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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