Folding arguments: A method for representing conflicting views of a conflict

This article presents a method for representing social conflict under disag reements over its representation, with the view that the resolution of such disagreements often affects the resolution of the conflict itself. The Arg umentative Analysis of Options (AAO) method proposed here extends Howard's Analysis of Options method for conflict analysis. The AAO method highlights the role of policy discourse in resolving the disagreed representation, an d models arguments made in these social processes. In this method, people's arguments are folded into a "strategic map" of a conflict, using a new cod ing system based on modal logic. The method is designed to be incorporated into group support systems (GSS) as a non-exclusive, non-specialist communi cation medium for both principal players and grassroots people. An experime ntal study is reported in which use of a prototype of GSS with the AAO meth od resulted in an assembly of rational and structured arguments in an attem pt to resolve a hypothetical conflict. An evaluation by users of the protot ype GSS suggested that it was less simple and more difficult to use, but ri cher than a more traditional electronic mail system. Design implications an d potential pitfalls of this approach to GSS are discussed based on the res ults of the experimental study.