BARD : a structured technique for group elicitation of Bayesian networks to support analytic reasoning

Nyberg, Erik P. and Nicholson, Ann E. and Korb, Kevin B. and Wybrow, Michael and Zukerman, Ingrid and Mascaro, Steven and Thakur, Shreshth and Oshni Alvandi, Abraham and Riley, Jeff and Pearson, Ross and Morris, Shane and Herrmann, Matthieu and Azad, A.K.M. and Bolger, Fergus and Hahn, Ulrike and Lagnado, David (2021) BARD : a structured technique for group elicitation of Bayesian networks to support analytic reasoning. Risk Analysis. ISSN 1539-6924 (https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.13759)

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Abstract

In many complex, real-world situations, problem solving and decision making require effective reasoning about causation and uncertainty. However, human reasoning in these cases is prone to confusion and error. Bayesian networks (BNs) are an artificial intelligence technology that models uncertain situations, supporting better probabilistic and causal reasoning and decision making. However, to date, BN methodologies and software require (but do not include) substantial upfront training, do not provide much guidance on either the model building process or on using the model for reasoning and reporting, and provide no support for building BNs collaboratively. Here, we contribute a detailed description and motivation for our new methodology and application, Bayesian ARgumentation via Delphi (BARD). BARD utilizes BNs and addresses these shortcomings by integrating (1) short, high-quality e-courses, tips, and help on demand; (2) a stepwise, iterative, and incremental BN construction process; (3) report templates and an automated explanation tool; and (4) a multiuser web-based software platform and Delphi-style social processes. The result is an end-to-end online platform, with associated online training, for groups without prior BN expertise to understand and analyze a problem, build a model of its underlying probabilistic causal structure, validate and reason with the causal model, and (optionally) use it to produce a written analytic report. Initial experiments demonstrate that, for suitable problems, BARD aids in reasoning and reporting. Comparing their effect sizes also suggests BARD's BN-building and collaboration combine beneficially and cumulatively.

  • Item type:Article
    ID code:78005
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    19 June 2021
    Published
    19 June 2021
    Published Online
    19 June 2021
    Accepted
    Subjects:Science > Mathematics
    Department:UNSPECIFIED
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:04 Oct 2021 15:03
    Last modified:02 Dec 2024 01:25
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/78005
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