Fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM) is a graphical technique used to represent causal relationships and has been applied in participatory research and decision-making across nine countries between 2016 and 2023. This practice review summarizes 25 experiences of FCM use by a group of participatory research specialists and trainees. FCM allows for the integration of stakeholder knowledge, systematic reviews, and survey data to inform decision-making. It provides a flexible framework for mapping complex systems and facilitating collective learning and decision-making. FCM is used to surface perspectives on how change could occur and to inform dialogue, rather than as a predictive model. The review highlights the use of FCM in various applications, including stakeholder knowledge mapping, mixed-methods literature reviews, and questionnaire data analysis. FCM has been applied in diverse fields, including medicine, environmental sciences, and public health. The review discusses the methods, challenges, and adjustments in FCM practice, emphasizing the importance of transparent mapping of stakeholder experience and data collection. The review also addresses the use of FCM in graduate teaching and the challenges of participant weighting. FCM is a participatory modeling approach that incorporates stakeholder experience and causal models to inform decision-making. The review highlights the importance of clear protocols and quality control in FCM applications. FCM is a flexible and robust method for sharing multiple stakeholder perspectives and can be used to contextualize evidence synthesis in stakeholders' knowledge. The review concludes that FCM is a valuable tool for participatory research and decision-making, offering systematic and traceable ways to document, contrast, and combine perspectives. The review also discusses the challenges of FCM, including the need for careful facilitation and the importance of stakeholder engagement. The review emphasizes the importance of operator-independent procedures and the need to ensure that the models represent the views of all stakeholders. FCM has the potential to inform AI-driven methods by incorporating expert knowledge in the form of fuzzy cognitive maps into complex graph-based models. The review highlights the importance of clear protocols and quality control in FCM applications and the need for further research on the impact of FCM as an intervention. The review also discusses the potential of FCM in education and the need for further studies on the evolution of group and individual characteristics throughout the mapping process. FCM is a valuable tool for participatory research and decision-making, offering a systematic and transparent basis for shared decision-making.Fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM) is a graphical technique used to represent causal relationships and has been applied in participatory research and decision-making across nine countries between 2016 and 2023. This practice review summarizes 25 experiences of FCM use by a group of participatory research specialists and trainees. FCM allows for the integration of stakeholder knowledge, systematic reviews, and survey data to inform decision-making. It provides a flexible framework for mapping complex systems and facilitating collective learning and decision-making. FCM is used to surface perspectives on how change could occur and to inform dialogue, rather than as a predictive model. The review highlights the use of FCM in various applications, including stakeholder knowledge mapping, mixed-methods literature reviews, and questionnaire data analysis. FCM has been applied in diverse fields, including medicine, environmental sciences, and public health. The review discusses the methods, challenges, and adjustments in FCM practice, emphasizing the importance of transparent mapping of stakeholder experience and data collection. The review also addresses the use of FCM in graduate teaching and the challenges of participant weighting. FCM is a participatory modeling approach that incorporates stakeholder experience and causal models to inform decision-making. The review highlights the importance of clear protocols and quality control in FCM applications. FCM is a flexible and robust method for sharing multiple stakeholder perspectives and can be used to contextualize evidence synthesis in stakeholders' knowledge. The review concludes that FCM is a valuable tool for participatory research and decision-making, offering systematic and traceable ways to document, contrast, and combine perspectives. The review also discusses the challenges of FCM, including the need for careful facilitation and the importance of stakeholder engagement. The review emphasizes the importance of operator-independent procedures and the need to ensure that the models represent the views of all stakeholders. FCM has the potential to inform AI-driven methods by incorporating expert knowledge in the form of fuzzy cognitive maps into complex graph-based models. The review highlights the importance of clear protocols and quality control in FCM applications and the need for further research on the impact of FCM as an intervention. The review also discusses the potential of FCM in education and the need for further studies on the evolution of group and individual characteristics throughout the mapping process. FCM is a valuable tool for participatory research and decision-making, offering a systematic and transparent basis for shared decision-making.