7.4) Adding Labels
- To label a positive or negative influence on the connection between two variables, we add a small + or – to the arrow. With either the “Move/Size” or “Arrow” tool from the sketch menu selected, right click on the circular handle of the arrow. This will bring up an options menu for this arrow. In the polarity box of this menu, select “+” or “-” as appropriate, then click “OK”
- Finally, to label the loops in the model as positive or negative feedback loops we use the comment tool. In the sketch menu, click on the “Comment” button. Then click in the middle of the loop you want to label. This will bring up a “Comment description” menu. In the Shape box, select “Loop Clkwse” (or “Loop Counter”), in the Text Position box select “Below”, type the text for the label into the comment box and in the Graphics box select “Image” and then select the “+” (or “-”) image from the dropdown list immediately to the right of this
- Once you have added labels to all four arrows and the two loops, your first causal loop diagram is complete