An affinity diagram, or affinity mapping, is a brainstorming technique where all ideas are listed out, then similar ideas are grouped together. Finally, each group is titled and given subsets
Affinity diagrams are a standard tool/practice used in design thinking brainstorming sessions. Noting all ideas and categorizing them based on their similarities to one another allows for stronger organization of ideas, and ultimately a more organized plan of action. Instead of having 60 new ideas with 60 new plans to get them to work, you can have 3 main ideas – each with 4 subsets – and each of those can have 5 ideas. A typical affinity diagram can be created following these steps:
An affinity diagram is a visual tool that helps organize ideas, facts, or data into groups based on their natural relationships. In the classroom, teachers use it to encourage students to brainstorm, sort information, and see connections between concepts.
To create an affinity diagram, students write ideas on sticky notes, then work together to group similar notes. These clusters form categories, making it easier to analyze and discuss information as a class.
Affinity diagrams help students organize complex information, encourage teamwork, and improve critical thinking skills by making relationships between ideas more visible.
Topics like science concepts, historical events, problem-solving strategies, or vocabulary lists work well for affinity diagrams, making them ideal for brainstorming and sorting activities.
An affinity diagram groups ideas by similarity, while a mind map visually organizes ideas around a central theme with branches. Both help organize information but use different structures.