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Visualize Dynamics (Rose Diagram)

Source: R/visualize_dynamics.R
visualize_dynamics.Rd

Creates a "Rose" or "Coxcomb" chart to visualize the developmental balance of a project. Inspired by Florence Nightingale's historic diagrams, this plot wraps a bar chart around a central point, allowing for the comparison of cyclical or categorized data without the visual bias of linear rank.

Usage

visualize_dynamics(
  analysis_object,
  project_title = "Project Dynamics Visualization"
)

Arguments

analysis_object

An object of class dynamics_analysis. This list must contain:

  • dynamics_df: A data frame with columns domain, dimension, domain_score, and dimension_value.

  • dynamics_score: A single numeric value representing the overall system score (\(S_d\)).

project_title

String. The title of the plot. Defaults to "Project Dynamics Visualization".

Value

A ggplot2 object.

Details

Historical Context: This visualization is adapted from the "Diagram of the Causes of Mortality in the Army in the East" by Florence Nightingale (1858). Just as her diagram highlighted disproportionate causes of death, this chart highlights disproportionate strengths or weaknesses in project infrastructure.

Visual Metaphor: The chart separates data into two distinct layers to show both the "Forest" (Domain) and the "Trees" (Dimensions):

  • Petals (Background Wedges): Represent the aggregated Domain score. These form the background "fan." If a Domain is strong, its petal reaches the outer edge (1.0). If weak, it shrinks toward the center.

  • Stamen (Foreground Lollipops): Represent the specific Dimension values. These radiating lines allow you to see if a specific dimension (e.g., "Trust") is lagging behind its parent Domain (e.g., "Partnerships").

Interpretation: A well-balanced project will appear as a full, nearly circular bloom. Gaps or "wilted" sectors indicate areas of the project infrastructure (Context, Partnerships, Research, Learning, Outcomes) that require attention.

References

Nightingale, F. (1858). Notes on Matters Affecting the Health, Efficiency, and Hospital Administration of the British Army. Harrison and Sons.

Price, J. F. (2024). CEnTR*IMPACT: Community Engaged and Transformative Research – Inclusive Measurement of Projects & Community Transformation. CUMU.