Wigmore chart

A Wigmore chart (commonly referred to as Wigmorean analysis) is a graphical method for the analysis of legal evidence in trials, developed by John Henry Wigmore.^[1][2] It is an early form of the modern belief network.^[3]

Wigmore evidence chart, from 1905

After completing his Treatise in 1904, Wigmore "became convinced that something was missing." He set up a system for analyzing evidence that consisted of lines, used to represent reasoning, explanations, refutations, and conclusions; and shapes which represent facts, claims, explanations, and refutations.^[4]

Although Wigmore taught his analytic method in the classroom during the early 20th century, the Wigmore chart was all but forgotten by the 1960s.^[4] Recent scholars have rediscovered his work and used it as a basis for modern analytic standards.^[5]

See also

• Bayesian network