[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-657443-105":59,"doc-detail-657443-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":123,"head_meta":125,"extra_data":127,"updated_unix":129},105,"en","introduction-to-causal-loop-diagrams-7-introduction-to-causal-loop-diagrams","Introduction to Causal Loop Diagrams - 7 - Introduction to Causal Loop Diagrams","","An educational introduction explains what causal loop diagrams (CLD) are and how they support systems thinking by visualizing interconnections and capturing complex, interdependent issues. It describes four core elements—variables, causal links, link polarities, and loop polarity—and develops a qualitative approach using factors and arrows. The material covers polarity (+/−), reinforcing and balancing loops, and uses an objective and example scenario to clarify causes, consequences, and time patterns in real situations such as traffic jams.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":20,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/introduction-to-causal-loop-diagrams-7-introduction-to-causal-loop-diagrams/657443/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/introduction-to-causal-loop-diagrams-7-introduction-to-causal-loop-diagrams/657443.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Blue Pony","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-29","2026-10-26",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":8},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What is a causal loop diagram used for?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"A causal loop diagram visualizes system interconnections and helps people understand complex, interdependent issues through causal perspectives. It supports system thinking and makes structural forces behind outcomes more explicit.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What four basic elements are included in a CLD?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"A CLD includes variables, the links between them, the signs of the links (polarity), and the sign of the loop. These elements describe how quantities change over time in a qualitative way.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"How do reinforcing and balancing loops differ?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"Reinforcing (positive) loops occur when an increase in one factor leads to an increase in another, which then increases the first factor again. Balancing (negative) loops counteract change, where increases eventually lead to effects that reduce the original factor.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},657443,1792979077,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":19,"category_name":20,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":8,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":46,"language":139,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":129,"read_time":31},962090760266,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_276721f389ce27ea32af1340a28f341c","INTRODUCTION TO CAUSAL LOOP DIAGRAMS  \nJudith Blaauw 1 and Alyssa Offutt2  \n1 Deltares and 2 IHE Delft Institute for Water Education  \nExcerpts from slides prepared for Water, Peace and Security tailor-made capacity development activities in Iraq. Please attribute authors when using materials.  \nCausal loop diagrams (CLD)  \n• A visualization of the system's interconnections  \n• A tool that facilitates system thinking and captures complex inter-dependent issues within diverse groups  \n• By representing an issue from a causal perspective, you can become more aware of the structural forces that produce complex outcomes  \n• Verbalizing a narrative through the loops to confirm the system behavior is being described. This story telling makes an understanding of the system more explicit.  \n• Includes 4 basic elements: variables, the links between them, the signs of the links and the sign of the loop  \nQualitative model: causal loop diagram  \nA set offactors and arrows  \nQualitative model: causal loop diagram  \nFactors (= words linked by incoming or outgoing arrows and  \nrepresenting variables or quantities whose value changes over time).  \n• are neutral: \u003C population> is better than \u003Cincrease in population>, because the changes follow from the signs of the arrows  \n• are preferably concisely formulated  \n• and specific: a chain must be divided into several factors and arrows  \n• may be part of the socio-economic, environmental or institutional system  \n• may increase or decrease: \u003C precipitation> is better than \u003Cclimate>, because we can say \u003Cmore precipitation>.\u003Cagricultural subsidy> is better than \u003Cpolicy>.  \nSystem dynamics-polarity  \nWhen 'factor x' increases, 'factor y' increases => positive arrow (polarity +)  \nWhen 'factor x' increases, 'factory' decreases => negative arrow (polarity-)  \nPositive arrow  \nBirths Population size  \nRiver water pollution  \nProliferation of harmful and invasive aquaticplants  \nwhen the number of births increases, the size of the population increases  \nSystem dynamics  \nNegative arrow and balancing loop  \nR = reinforcing B = balancing  \nwhen the number of births increases, the size of the population increases  \nwhen the size of the population increases, the number of births increases  \nwhen the size of the population increases, the number of deaths increases  \nwhen the number of deaths increases, the size of the population decreases  \nSystem dynamics  \nPositive causal loop: reinforcement loop  \nwhen the number of births increases, the size of the population increases  \nwhen the size of the population increases, the number of births increases  \nObjective to develop a causal loop diagram on the links between natural resources and safety  \n• clarify perceptions of causal links  \n• find links between the knowledge of different participants  \n• develop a shared understanding of the links between natural resources and security  \n• as a basis for identifying questions about the system that further research can help to answer  \nExample: 1. What are the causes and consequences of an increase in traffic jams  \nSeverity  \nof traffic  \njams  \n2. Pattern over time  \n• Traffic jams are currently posing a problem for society  \n• In the year 2000 the level was still acceptable, but since then increased steadily  \n• Fear is that traffic jam intensity will continue to increase and pose huge problems  \n2000 Now 2050","cbCaidDqPrN3G5Nb","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaidDqPrN3G5Nb","pdf",1461746,"English","# Causal loop diagrams (CLD)\n## Purpose and key concepts\n## Four basic elements\n## Qualitative model and factors\n## Polarity and arrows (+ / -)\n## Reinforcing and balancing loops\n# Objective and example use case\n## Causes and consequences of traffic jams\n## Pattern over time","[{\"question\":\"What is a causal loop diagram used for?\",\"answer\":\"A causal loop diagram visualizes system interconnections and helps people understand complex, interdependent issues through causal perspectives. It supports system thinking and makes structural forces behind outcomes more explicit.\"},{\"question\":\"What four basic elements are included in a CLD?\",\"answer\":\"A CLD includes variables, the links between them, the signs of the links (polarity), and the sign of the loop. These elements describe how quantities change over time in a qualitative way.\"},{\"question\":\"How do reinforcing and balancing loops differ?\",\"answer\":\"Reinforcing (positive) loops occur when an increase in one factor leads to an increase in another, which then increases the first factor again. Balancing (negative) loops counteract change, where increases eventually lead to effects that reduce the original factor.\"}]","Introduction to Causal Loop Diagrams - 7 - Introduction to Causal Loop Diagrams | PDF"]