Update Query API

[emjun]

There is one primary directive in Tisane. The directive instructs Tisane to synthesize a statistical model based on a set of variables and their conceptual and data measurement relationships, as expressed in Tisane (#20).

End-users must construct a study design to pass to the directive:

design = ts.Design(dv=math, ivs=[hw, race, mean_ses], data='nes88.csv') 

ts.synthesize_statistical_model(design)

Idea: An alternative may be to use the design data structure internally but only require the end-user to provide a set of variables:

ts.synthesize_statistical_model(dv=math, ivs=[hw, race, mean_ses], data='nes88.csv')

This directive emphasizes one conceptual difference between Tisane and other statistical modeling tools:

1. Unlike other tools that require end-users to fully-specify their statistical models mathematically, Tisane figures out the statistical model effects structure based on conceptual and data measurement relationships, asking the user for input in the face of modeling ambiguity. Tisane requires end-users specify the dependent and independent variables and any relevant conceptual and measurement relationships.

In an evaluation, it would be great to learn how intuitive/easy it is to use Tisane's API: Is expressing a set of relationships easier than expressing a statistical model mathematically?