Diagramming Research Designs

Abstract

In the social sciences different graphical methods have been developed to represent research designs. The chapter starts with a review of some of these methods: figures often turn out to be ambiguous, in particular where the interpretation of the arrows between nodes is concerned. Furthermore, rendering the placement in time of the various operations stays mostly implicit, while indication of strategy is not depicted graphically. A functional notation is sketched which allows the drawing of well-defined diagrams using a graphical node-and-arrow language. An alternative to the representation of an experimental design is given first and, at the end, a diagram of an actual survey study. Finally, the consequences for various fields are discussed. This kind of diagramming could be beneficially used in methodological consultation and education. Modelling meta data and meta analysis are other potential application fields.