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

Erik P. Nyberg, Ann E. Nicholson, Kevin B. Korb, Michael Wybrow, Ingrid Zukerman, Steven Mascaro, Shreshth Thakur, Abraham Oshni Alvandi, Jeff Riley, Ross Pearson, Shane Morris, Matthieu Herrmann, A.K.M. Azad, Fergus Bolger, Ulrike Hahn, David Lagnado

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)
11 Downloads (Pure)

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.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages24
JournalRisk Analysis
Early online date19 Jun 2021
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 19 Jun 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Delphi process
  • probabilistic graphical models
  • probabilistic reasoning

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