Mind maps are a visual way of categorizing your notes. You can easily show relationships between concepts. There are a variety of online, collaborative tools to create, share and collaborate on mind maps.
A mind map is a great way to identify gaps in your knowledge, or show areas that you are more interested in studying. A mind map is a great tool for refining a research question or research problem before beginning your research. It can be an excellent tool when creating an outline seems like too much for the time or task at hand.
Digital tools for mind maps:
Note cards are a great way to organize quotations, concepts, key terms, and key people. More than a study resource, note cards can help you organize your paper, help you see where you need more evidence, and help you prepare to speak or write from memory.