ConversationFlow Base Class

`ConversationFlow` is an R6 base class defining the interface for turn-taking mechanisms in a focus group simulation. Subclasses implement specific strategies for selecting the next speaker.

Methods for Subclassing

`initialize(agents, moderator_id)`

Sets up the flow. Call `super$initialize(agents, moderator_id)`.

`select_next_speaker(focus_group)`

*Required*. Logic to choose the next `FGAgent` to speak. Should return the agent object or `NULL`.

`update_state_post_selection(speaker_id, focus_group)`

Optional. Updates internal state after a speaker has spoken. Base implementation updates `self$last_speaker_id`.

Public fields

agents

A named list of `FGAgent` objects participating in the conversation.

agent_ids

A character vector of agent identifiers (names of the `agents` list).

participant_ids

A character vector of agent identifiers, excluding the moderator.

moderator_id

Character. The ID of the moderator agent.

last_speaker_id

The ID of the agent who last spoke. Can be `NULL`.

Methods

Public methods

• ConversationFlow$new()

• ConversationFlow$select_next_speaker()

• ConversationFlow$update_state_post_selection()

• ConversationFlow$clone()

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Method new()

Initializes the ConversationFlow object.

Usage

ConversationFlow$new(agents, moderator_id)

Arguments

agents

A named list of `FGAgent` objects.

moderator_id

Character. The ID of the moderator agent.

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Method select_next_speaker()

Selects the next speaker. Must be implemented by subclasses.

Usage

ConversationFlow$select_next_speaker(focus_group)

Arguments

focus_group

The `FocusGroup` object managing the simulation, providing context.

Returns

The `FGAgent` object of the selected speaker, or `NULL`.

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Method update_state_post_selection()

Updates internal state after a speaker is selected.

Usage

ConversationFlow$update_state_post_selection(speaker_id, focus_group)

Arguments

speaker_id

The ID of the agent who was selected and just spoke.

focus_group

The `FocusGroup` object.

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Method clone()

The objects of this class are cloneable with this method.

Usage

ConversationFlow$clone(deep = FALSE)

Arguments

deep

Whether to make a deep clone.