Some answers to frequently asked questions

Why might I use Multicriteria Mapping software?

If you want to quickly understand a complex problem from different viewpoints – taking account of the uncertainties and different options, then MCM is for you. If you want to do a detailed analysis of the precise conditions under which alternative strategies look strong or weak, MCM also lets you do this. If you want to undertake an entire research project involving groups of stakeholders exploring contrasting scenarios and their associated implications, with systematic analysis of all the qualitative and quantitative data then MCM provides an analysis tool for just this purpose. 

Is there a manual?

Yes - click here to download the MCM manual: MCM manual [PDF 3.87MB]

How do I get started?

The MCM tool is free! You can register and create a free single user account. We give you a demo project and some sample data to play around with to help you get to know the various features of the software. You can also choose to archive the demo project and create your own project to really put MCM through it's paces! So click here to get started.

Which type of user account is the best for me?

If you are a lone researcher wanting to interview respondents and collect and analyse your own data, we recommend the ‘SINGLE USER’ package.

If you are leading a team and have more than 1 project at hand, you can try the ‘COLLABORATIVE’ package. It allows you to create up to 5 active projects, invite other researchers to work with you, as well as analyse and share results.

If you are heading a large team, with sub-teams led by their own leads, then the ‘PREMIUM’ package would suit you best. You can create up to 20 active projects, and the team leads as administrators to those projects. These project administrators can then invite researchers, collect data and analyse/share results.

Request to change your user account type by emailing us at multicriteriamapping@gmail.com.

What if I want to have multiple MCM projects or manage a team of MCM researchers?

Please note, some features including having multiple MCM projects and managing teams of MCM researchers are only available to you when you request the MCM Collaborative or Premium user account.

You can choose to upgrade to any type of user account at any time by emailing us at multicriteriamapping@gmail.com.. 

Do I have to sign a long-term contract?

There's no contract for using our software — it is free to use, and you can request to upgrade, downgrade or delete your account any time without penalty.

What happens to my data if I stop using MCM?

We undertake to maintain live and archived data for as long as is practically possible. However, we do reserve the right to terminate and delete your account if you haven't accessed our services for 12 consecutive months. There are instructions in the MCM Manual for extracting your data from the MCM software.

Can I use the software without an internet connection?

Yes, you can use part of the software in an offline mode. This section allows you to engage with respondents/participants and conduct interviews as well as record this data. We do recommend that you use the offline tool to conduct interviews/workshops with participants. Once you have an internet connection, you can simply upload this data and continue with the analyses using the online software.

I need help. What do I do?

You can get in touch with us via email at multicriteriamapping@gmail.com. This software is not officially supported, but we do aim to answer your queries within a reasonable timeframe.