The purposes of this study are to investigate whether the quiz scores of physical therapy students who integrated mind mapping in their learning strategies are significantly different than the quiz scores of students who did not use mind mapping to learn in a lecture-based research course and examine the students' perceptions of mind mapping as a useful tool for learning. Fourteen physical therapy students enrolled in a doctoral research course were trained in mind mapping and instructed to create mind maps based on lecture, assigned readings, and instructor's notes for 2 units in the course. The instructors were the same instructors who taught the course the previous year. Upon completion of the units, students were given the same quiz as the students enrolled in the research course the previous year and asked to complete a questionnaire and participate in a focus group. The data collected on the 1st unit quiz indicated that the mind mapping group scored significantly lower (p less than 0.001) than the previous students enrolled in the course. On the 2nd unit quiz there was no significant difference between the mind mapping group and the previous students. The students in the mind mapping group did not respond favorably to mind mapping as a useful learning tool as indicated by their responses on a survey and in a focus group. The data from this study was inconsistent with the literature and the usefulness of mind mapping in physical therapy education needs to be explored through further research with consideration toward the amount of time allotted for training students, the optimal time in a physical therapy program curriculum to implement the training, and the strategies used to teach and assess the students' understanding of mind mapping. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]