How to Make Inquiry Maps

David J. Rosen

January, 1996

A group decides to make an inquiry map. This could be a group of students, educators, a study circle of people interested in a particular topic, or other group. A guide -- someone who knows how to make inquiry maps, or at least who understands the process described below -- leads the group. An inquiry map generally takes several meetings or sessions, at least three and perhaps as many as ten. A session could range from an hour to two hours.

1. The group chooses a topic together, one which participants care about, and want to learn more about.

Then the participants:

2. generate (real and important) questions;

a. The questions are clarified and possibly focused and narrowed so that they can be researched; then

b. Questions are selected by the participants who want to research them;

3. identify and choose the inquiry methods, such as:

a. an interview

b. documenting personal experience

c. a survey (classroom, school, family, neigborhood)

d. systematic observation and recording of information

e. experiment

f. access to an expert -- and opportunity to interview by telephone or in-person

g. reference book(s) at home or school

h. library research

i . research using databases on the WorldWide Web

j. posting questions to net user groups or listservs;

4. plan their research;

5. carry out research;

6. present their findings, usually in prose, but possibly in a chart, graph or illustration, or through a photograph, or videotape. They:

a. cite sources

b. indicate if there are multiple (and consistent/inconsistent) findings

c. indicate new questions which have emerged

d. critique limitations of findings

e. may recommend further research that is needed

f. may critique their findings

7. The questions are graphically linked with the findings (and possibly to emerging questions.) In the case of an inquiry map on a wall, these can be linked by colored string or thread. For a three-ring binder version, at then end of each question is the page number of the answer(s). In the case of a hypertext version, the link is made with html tags.

8. Other participants read and possibly critique findings

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1. The same group, or a new group which has chosen the same topic, may review the inquiry map;

2. Participants identify existing or new questions to research, or new or additional questions to do their research on.

The process continues from step 3 above.