This half-day online training event (via Zoom) for researchers is led by Professor Carolyn Wallace, Megan Elliott and Dr Mark Davies, University of South Wales.
The course is designed to introduce participants to Group Concept Mapping (GCM). GCM is a mixed-methods approach which allows researchers to generate consensus with stakeholders and participants in both workshop and online formats. GCM involves three study phases: brainstorming, sorting and rating. GCM is a versatile method which can be used in a range of health and social care research settings to explore challenges, impact, solutions and develop practical frameworks. The GCM group at University of South Wales have used GCM in studies about social prescribing, family resilience, evaluation frameworks, quality, well-being, compassionate care and complex care.
This workshop aims to introduce delegates to GCM by taking them through the process of conducting a GCM study from both the researcher and participant perspective, and will demonstrate the utility of this method in a variety of contexts. Delegates will first be introduced to the method, before engaging in three 10-minute interactive study phases based on an example study. The researchers will demonstrate how findings are analysed and can be interpreted and used by researchers, practitioners, commissioners and policy makers. Delegates will discuss potential applications of GCM in their own research areas.
By the end of the session participants will:
• Have an understanding of Group Concept Mapping and the stages involved.
• Have experienced GCM from both a participant and researcher perspective.
• Be aware of the different outputs and applications GCM offers.
• Have a basic understanding of how to use the Group WisdomTM software.
This course will be of value to PhD students, academics and social researchers across all fields. As discussed, we have used GCM across a broad range of health and social care settings and contexts, but its applications extend far beyond this field.