A study of argumentation in a causal probabilistic humanistic domain: Genetic counseling

Abstract

We present the results of an in-depth qualitative analysis of argumentation in two genetic counseling patient letters. In addition to argumentation techniques designed for medical experts, we found other types of causal argumentation designed for lay readers, reflecting the educational and supportive counseling functions of these letters. Analysis was facilitated by use of a coding scheme for representing causal probabilistic biomedical content of the letters as Bayesian networks. We define the argument techniques used in the letters in terms of Bayesian network, semantic network, argumentation theory, and user model concepts rather than in terms of genetics concepts. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Int Syst 22: 71–93, 2007.