The information on the following page, outlining concept mapping technique, was left with each participant to provide initial guidance. Participants were requested to fit the development of the concept map into their schedules. Once the map was completed, a time was set up for an interview in which we conducted a further exploration of the map.

Concept mapping is a method for attempting to analyse how one has a body of knowledge arranged in one's mind. If an individual draws a concept map of the discipline of mathematics, we can get some idea of his or her mental structure for the subject, how the various topics, concepts, and procedures are linked. Below is an example of a concept map employed by Novak and Gowin (1984) to guide interviews regarding individuals understanding of art.

From: Novak, J. D., & Gowin, D. B. (1984). Learning How to Learn. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p.182.

I would like you to construct a personal concept map for Mathematics. Begin by placing the title, Mathematics, in the middle of the large chart paper and then just let the ideas associated with this title flow. Place the words associated with related ideas in clusters on the page and add lines to show connections. As in the example above, the connecting lines may be labelled to show the nature of the links between concepts. You may wish to do your work in pencil to allow adjustments if later ideas require rearrangements.

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