Daniel Delacruz

CST 495

April 29, 2004

Visualizing Argumenation – Kirschner, Shum, & Carr

I. Roots of Computer Supported Argument Visualization

Eclectic mix of disciplines

. Charting Evidence in Legal Cases

Chart Method - 1913 John Henry Wigmore

. Memex and Hypertext

As We May Think – 1945 Vannevar Bush

d) Structure of Practical Arguments

The Uses of Argument – 1958 Stephen Toulmin

. Augmenting Human Intellect: A Conceptual Framework

- 1962 Douglas Engelbart

. Concept Mapping and Mindmapping

- 1972 Joseph Novak and Tony Buzan

II. Cooperative Problem Solving

. Most real life problems are ill-structured

. Evaluation criteria varies from person to person

. Collaborative problem solving helps maintain focus

Three General States in Problem Solving

. Orientation State

. Problem Solving State

. Evaluation State

Characteristics of Argument Representation

. Notations

. Tools

. Artifacts

Coordination Problems

. Incomplete Understanding

. Misunderstanding

Different Problem Representations

. Manifesting Different Data

. Different Formats

. Different Operators

Discussions Between Experts and Novices

. Different Prototypes of the Same Concept

. Different Evaluation Criteria

Preconditions require minimal levels of:

. Shared Understanding

. Accountability

. Trust

III. Argumentation and Collaboration in Computer Mediated Communication

. Source for Alternative Views to Challenge Our Own

. Externalize Knowledge and Opinions

Interface Design

. Provoke and Support Argumentation

. Critical Information Checking

. Argument Elaboration

. Taking of Multiple Perspectives

Synchronous Discussions

. Real-time Psychological Pressures

. Less Constructive

. Cause Students to Lose Track of an Argument

Asynchronous Discussions

. More Time Afforded for Reflection

. Keeps Track of the Line of Discussion

Computerized Learning Environments

. Require Facilitation

. Technical Disturbances are Detrimental to Collaborative Learning Processes

. Loss of Thematic Focus Can Easily Occur

IV. Argument Visualization to Teach Legal Argumentation

Legal Reasoning

. Persuade

. Convince

Preferable Against

. Concurrent Choices

. Concurrent Decisions

. Concurrent Attitudes

Argumentation Processes

. Assertions

. Claims

. Support

. Justification

. Data

. Facts

. Evidence

Development of Argumentation Skills

. Three Primary Ways

. Equip Language to Examine Personal Commitment

. Introducing the Role of Probability in Reasoning

Revealing the Chain of Argumentation

Stephen Toulmin’s Model of Argument

. Procedural Not Static or Spatial

. Based on Legal Reasoning

. Layout Model Focuses on Movement of Accepted Data Through a Warrant, To A Chain

Three Secondary Elements in an Argument

. Backing

. Authority For a Warrant

. Provides Credibility

. Introduced To Back Face Value of Warrant

. b) Qualifier

. 1) Indicates Degree of Certainty

. 2) Converts Terms of Argument From Absolute to Probable

c) Rebuttal

. 1) Exceptions For Claim to Fail

. 2) Anticipates Objections

V. Enhancing Deliberation Through Computer Supported Argument Visualization

Argument Visualization

. Presentation of Reasoning

. Evidential Relationships

. Graphical / Non-Verbal Techniques

. Alternative to Written or Spoken Prose

. Clearer and Unambiguous

. Logical Structure

. Uniform Interpretations

Drawbacks to Prose

. Non-Uniform Interpretations

. Reasoning is Difficult to Extract

. Sequentially Structured Whereas Arguments are Fundamentally Not

. Juxtapositioned and Concatenated Claims

1) Reader Must Mentally Reconstruct

2) Non-Sequential Prose Structure

VI. Dialog Mapping Case Study

Questmap

. Hypertext

. GroupWare Features

. Difficult for New Users to Master

Issue Based Information System

. Structured Analytic Maps i.e.: Diagrams

. Based On Asking the Right Questions

. Simpler To Learn

Artful Questions

. Simple, Not Compound

. Open, Not Closed

Dialog Mapping

. Not Functional in Every Type of Meeting

. Not Productive in Every King of Group

Motivation for Use

. Consolidates Resources in One Area

. Documents Thinking Patterns for Conclusions

Separate Training Courses

. One for Argumentation

. One for Software Components

. Better Sustained Learning

Synchronous Verses Asynchronous Computer Supported Argument Visualization

Synchronous Mode

. Group Meetings

. Burden of Skill Is On Facilitator

Asynchronous Mode

. Individual File Management Tool

. Burden of Skill Is On Each Individual/Participant

VII. Fostering Collective Intelligence

Principles of Visualized Argumentation Facilitation

. Increase Functionality

. Increase Effectiveness

. Provide Superlative Skills

. Visualize Situations/Tasks Better

Characterization of “Vision Logic”

. Leadership

. Memory

. Knowledge

. Coherence

. Culture

. Trust

. Expertise

. Time

Multidimensional Events of Meetings

. Emotional

. Individual

. Social

. Sectoral

. Historical

. Societal

Facilitator Competencies

. Listening

. Determining Style and Level of Intervention

Characterizations of Facilitators’ Media Tool’s Primary Functions

. Support Listening

. Paying Attention

. Making Interventions

. Pulling Together and Representing Information

. Preserving Information for Future Resources

Representational Sufficiencies

. Reframing

. Preservation

. Rigor

. Repeatability

. Affordance

. Dimensionality

VIII. Interdisciplinary Debates

Real-Time Debates

. Capture Debates on the Fly

. Documents Decisions

. Support the Development of Debate

. Tool for Teaching Critical Thinking

Historical Debates

. Display History and Current Status

. Provide Navigational Framework

. Tool for Teaching Critical Thinking

Pedagogical Implications

. Complexity Requires Structure

. Opportunity to See Major Disagreements

. Provide Context and Visible Structure

. Evaluations Needed

IX. Scholarly Publishing: Beyond Prose

Inspirations

. Vannevar Bush

. Douglas Engelbart

. Ted Nelson

Today’s Information Infrastructure Potential

. Augment Textual Narrative

. Exploit Global Networks

Bulwarks of Online Resources

. Information Overload

. Less Time to Track Growing Numbers:

1) Conferences

2) Journals

3) Reports

Gap in Researcher’s Digital Toolkit

. Tracking Ideas

. Results in Fields

. Expressing, Analyzing, and Contesting Their Significance

Requirements for Scholarly Discourse Ontology

. Mimic Natural Language Expressions to Reduce Cognitive Gap

. Ownership of Public Content is Critical

. Social Dimensions to Being Explicit

. Concepts Must Allow Different Category Types Outside Scheme

. Schemes Should Recognize Disciplinary Differences in Argumentive Styles