Exploring Aboriginal Views of Health Using Fuzzy Cognitive Maps and Transitive Closure: A Case Study of the Determinants of Diabetes
Open accessAbstract
Objectives To demonstrate how fuzzy cognitive maps may be used to extract, present and compare Aboriginal perspectives, using the determinants of diabetes as a case study. Methods Participants from the Mohawk Community of Akwesasne and the Miawpukek First Nation in Conne River created fuzzy cognitive maps (FCMs) (N=3) detailing their views of "the causes of diabetes in their community", through a facilitated, group mapping session. For each FCM, the net causal effect of every determinant (direct or indirect) on diabetes was calculated from its transitive closure. The net causal effects were then compared across the set of FCMs to identify strong, weak and controversial determinants. Results Comparison of FCMs revealed significant heterogeneity in the perspectives of diabetes. The Akwesasne participants focused heavily on social, traditional and spiritual factors, while Conne River participants placed more importance on direct personal and lifestyle factors. There was, however, a core of strong, validated determinants related primarily to healthy diet and physical activity. Conclusions This work demonstrates how FCM may be used to extract and represent different perspectives of complex issues allowing for comparisons among stakeholders or knowledge groups. Comparison of multiple FCM employing the transitive closure may then be used to identify areas of agreement and controversy.
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Transitive closure is an algorithm that identifies all possible direct and indirect influences within a map.
“Transitive closure is an algorithm that identifies all possible influences within a map (Giles et al., 2008;Sarmiento et al., 2022).”
From Sexual and gender-based violence against South Sudanese refugees in Uganda: a mixed-methods study (2025) · cites this paper as Giles et al., 2008
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- EXPLORING ABORIGINAL VIEWS OF HEALTH SEPTEMBER -OCTOBER 2008 CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH 417
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- Authors
- Giles, B. G., Haas, G., Šajna, M., & Findlay, C. S.
- Affiliations
- University of Ottawa (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Findlay, C. S.
- ORCID
- Šajna, M.
- Venue
- Canadian Journal of Public Health
- Published
- 2008-09
- Volume
- 99
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 411-417
- ISSN
- 0008-4263 (ISSN-L)
- 1920-7476
- PMC
- PMC6975579
- OpenAlex
- W1504076717
- Cited by
- 29
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 0.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Canadian Journal of Public Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Health Canada
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Cognitive Science and Mapping
- Social Sciences › Health › Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Complex Systems and Decision Making
- Keywords
- fuzzy cognitive maps, transitive closure, community knowledge, healthy eating, physical activity, stakeholder comparison
- MeSH terms
- Attitude to Health, Canada, Cognition, Diabetes Mellitus, Diet, Humans, Indians, North American, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Life Style, Motor Activity, Social Environment, Spiritualism, Fuzzy Logic, Population Groups
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