StudyFlow

StudyFlows are formal diagrams based on BPMN to describe cognitive research. They can be used to visually describe the study protocol, the analysis pipeline, or any other steps in a study. StudyFlows facilitate communication with participants (e.g., automatically running a study), researchers (e.g., reproducible protocols and analyses), systems (e.g., automated data processing), and other stakeholders.

• TODO: Example diagrams

Elements

Each StudyFlow is a BPMN diagram with additional elements specific to cognitive research.

Experimental design

The following elements can be used to describe the study protocol.

• bpmn:StartEvent: initiates the flow. There must be only one start event in a study.
• bpmn:SequenceFlow: connects the elements.
• studyflow:Element
  • studyflow:Activity: a generic task (bpmn:Task) that can be performed by a participant or a system.
    • studyflow:CognitiveTest: participant performs a cognitive test.
    • studyflow:Questionnaire: participant answers a questionnaire.
      • studyflow:Consent: participant provides consent for the study.
      • studyflow:Instruction: participant reads the instructions.
    • studyflow:VideoGame: participant plays a video game.
    • studyflow:Rest: participant takes a break, and performs no activity as in resting-state.
  • studyflow:Dispatcher: a subclass of bpmn:ExclusiveGateway that splits the flow into on of the multiple paths based on a condition.
    • studyflow:RandomDispatcher: a subclass of Dispatcher that randomly selects one of the outgoing paths.
• bpmn:EndEvent terminates the flow. There must be only one end event in a study.

Modeling and data analysis

The following elements can be used to describe the analysis pipeline.

• bpmn:StartEvent: initiates the analysis pipeline. Unlike experimental design, there can be multiple start events in a pipeline.
• bpmn:EndEvent: terminates the analysis pipeline. Unlike experimental design, there can be multiple end events in a pipeline.
• TODO