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16 - Diagrams Of Causal Processes

(EN: This chapter utilizes graphics to illustrate causal processes that are already discussed - there's likely to be little information other than descriptions of diagrams.)

Causal Networks

The casual network diagram is extremely free-form, creating boxes or ovals that indicate events, connecting them with arrows to indicate that one event is the cause of another one.

An additional layer of information can be added by using different kinds or colors of arrows to suggest that one event increased or decreased the probability of another event occurring, or there could be an indication of the numerical probability of causation.

Fishbone Diagrams

A fishbone diagram is used to better cluster events according to their category. For example, the possible causes of a computer system error might be arranged along the "bones" of things that the user might have done, things that might be due to hardware, things than might be due to software and things that might be due to the network.

This diagram is especially useful when investigation of separate categories can be done at different times, or by different investigators working on a team.

Flowcharts

Flowchart diagrams are useful for documenting a complex chain of events that involved actions and decisions. They are commonly used to prescribe processes for future use, but can be used in the same way to reconstruct past events in a chain of causation

Of particular interest to causal analysis is the diagnostic flowchart, which breaks a complex analysis into a number of simpler questions that can lead to a better identification of a problem.