Brainstorming and Concept Mapping for Research Questions

Introduction

We present methods for creating good research questions using brainstorming and concept mapping. These techniques help researchers organize what they know and find gaps to explore. By combining brainstorming with concept mapping, we can analyze existing research and find new areas to study.

How We Think About Research Questions

Mental Processes

When we develop research questions, we use pattern recognition, associative thinking, and critical analysis. Brainstorming helps us think broadly, while concept mapping helps us organize ideas visually. Together, these approaches let us:

Break down complex topics
Show relationships between ideas
Connect ideas across different fields
Find patterns in existing research
Spot missing elements in current knowledge

Visual mapping helps us work with complex information by showing connections on paper instead of just in our minds.

Types of Research Gaps

We identify seven main types of gaps that concept mapping helps us find:

1. Empirical Gaps - Missing data from specific groups or situations
2. Theoretical Gaps - Unexplained findings or conflicts between studies
3. Methodological Gaps - Untested research approaches
4. Population Gaps - Groups not included in existing studies
5. Temporal Gaps - Lack of long-term data
6. Geographical Gaps - Missing information from certain regions
7. Practical Gaps - Limited real-world application of theories

For example, when we map climate change research, we might find few studies in polar regions or a lack of long-term monitoring.

Our Step-by-Step Approach

Step 1: First Look at Existing Research

List Keywords: Write 50-100 terms related to your research area. For climate change, we might list "carbon capture," "melting ice," and "climate migration."
Group Similar Terms: Put related words together to find main concepts.
Create a Gap Matrix: Make a spreadsheet that tracks:
- Frequently studied topics
- Rarely studied ideas
- Contradictions in findings
- New terms in recent publications

This first step shows us what's known and what's missing.

Step 2: Creating Concept Maps

Start with Main Question: Put your main research interest in the center. Example: "How Microplastics Affect Marine Food Chains."
Add First Branches: Create branches for:
- Known theories
- Proven impacts
- Current methods
- Studied species
Add Connections:
- Link theories to methods
- Connect species findings to ecosystem effects
- Show changes over time
Highlight Gaps: Use colors to mark:
- Red: Unexplored connections
- Yellow: Conflicting findings
- Green: Well-established facts

This mapping turns abstract ideas into visual guides that show research opportunities.

Step 3: Using AI to Help Find Gaps

We can now use AI tools to:

Search Many Papers: Extract key ideas from thousands of studies
Find Trends: Identify growing topics
Predict Gaps: Suggest research areas based on patterns

For example, AI might show decreasing research on coastal species despite increasing plastic pollution - pointing to a research gap.

Better Brainstorming for Finding Gaps

Question Storming

We use this approach to generate 100+ research questions through these steps:

Basic Questions
- What do most studies measure?
- Which groups aren't being studied?
- Where do research methods differ?
Time-Related Questions
- How have measurement techniques changed?
- What long-term effects are unknown?
- Where do we need more long-term studies?
Comparison Questions
- How do results differ by location?
- What cultural factors affect results?
- Why do similar studies find different things?
Forward-Looking Questions
- What discoveries would change current models?
- How might new technologies change research methods?
- What new viewpoints could change how we see existing data?

Documenting these questions reveals patterns in overlooked areas.

Borrowing Ideas Across Fields

We can find gaps by looking at other fields:

Identify the Problem: (e.g., measuring tiny particle toxicity)
Find Similar Problems in Other Fields: Drug delivery in cancer research
Adapt Their Methods: Radioactive tracking techniques
Apply in New Ways: Using medical imaging in environmental studies

This approach has helped researchers adapt chemistry methods to study microplastics.

Evaluating and Prioritizing Questions

Gap Assessment Matrix

We evaluate potential research questions using four criteria:

Criterion	Weight	Score Guide
Theoretical Impact	30%	1-5 (Fills important knowledge gap)
Methodological Novelty	25%	1-5 (Introduces new approaches)
Practical Relevance	25%	1-5 (Solves real-world problems)
Feasibility	20%	1-5 (Resources/data availability)

Questions scoring 4+ in Theoretical Impact and Practical Relevance should be priorities.

Stakeholder Mapping

We check how potential research questions connect with:

Funding agency interests
Industry needs
Policy requirements
Community benefits

This ensures research addresses real needs while maintaining scientific value.

Example: Brain Disease Research

Initial Brainstorming

A research team listed 127 concepts including:

Protein misfolding
Blood-brain barrier function
Early warning signs
Gut-brain connections
Tiny drug carriers

Their Concept Map Showed

Over-Researched Areas: Amyloid plaques (68% of papers)
Emerging Topics: Gut microbiome effects (12% coverage)
Major Gaps:
- Blood vessel contributions (<5% studies)
- Differences between men and women (3% studies)
- Prevention through lifestyle (1% studies)

Research Questions Developed

The team created three main questions:

"How do blood vessel changes affect protein clumping in early Alzheimer's?"
"What differences exist between men and women in brain cell responses to disease?"
"Can multiple biological markers predict brain disease risk 10+ years before symptoms?"

This process turned broad concepts into specific questions targeting knowledge gaps.

Ethical Considerations

Addressing Bias in Finding Gaps

Database Bias: Too many studies from Western countries
Language Bias: Ignoring non-English research
Citation Bias: Under-citing research from developing nations

To fix these problems, we:

Search literature in multiple languages
Map research by geography
Check citation diversity

We must ensure our gap-finding process doesn't reinforce existing inequalities.

Considering Social Impact

Our concept maps should include:

Potential misuse concerns
Community involvement needs
Long-term consequences

For AI safety research, this means mapping how alignment algorithms might affect jobs or political systems.

Future Tools for Research

3D Mapping Systems

New holographic tools enable:

Spatial organization of research networks
Group collaboration on gap analysis
Dynamic testing of research impact scenarios

These tools help us visualize complex relationships between environmental, social, and technological factors.

Predictive Gap Tools

AI models now forecast:

Emerging fields through patent/paper trends
Future funding priorities based on policy documents
Cross-field innovation opportunities

A recent system predicted quantum biology applications 18 months before publications appeared.

Conclusion

By combining brainstorming with concept mapping, we create a strong approach for developing research questions. By visually organizing what we know and systematically exploring its boundaries, we can:

Find high-impact research areas
Avoid duplicate studies
Develop new methods
Address important social problems

Future advances in AI-enhanced mapping will speed up scientific discovery while promoting more equal knowledge creation. However, human thinking remains essential for interpreting computer insights and maintaining ethical research. As knowledge grows faster, these structured yet flexible approaches will become more important for cutting-edge research in all fields.