Type:	Package
Title:	Create Publication-Ready Causal Diagrams
Version:	0.2.1
Description:	Creates publication-ready causal diagrams using 'ggplot2'. Provides simple templates for common causal diagrams (e.g., mediating mechanisms and parallel pathways) with customizable labels, colors, fonts, and export-friendly defaults.
License:	MIT + file LICENSE
Encoding:	UTF-8
RoxygenNote:	7.3.2
Imports:	ggforce, ggplot2, ggtext
Suggests:	shiny, shinythemes
URL:	https://github.com/sebastianvanbaalen/causalplot
BugReports:	https://github.com/sebastianvanbaalen/causalplot/issues
NeedsCompilation:	no
Packaged:	2026-03-11 06:55:23 UTC; sebastian
Author:	Sebastian van Baalen [aut, cre, cph]
Maintainer:	Sebastian van Baalen <sebastian.van-baalen@pcr.uu.se>
Repository:	CRAN
Date/Publication:	2026-03-16 19:00:02 UTC

Create a causal plot

Description

Draw a simple causal diagram using ggplot2, with rounded boxes and arrows.

Usage

causal_plot(
  labels = NULL,
  type = "1111",
  fill_variables = "grey80",
  fill_mechanisms = "grey90",
  corner_radius = 0.12,
  font = "sans",
  text_size = 4,
  text_color = "black",
  wrap_width = 24,
  arrow_length = grid::unit(3, "mm"),
  arrow_linewidth = 0.6,
  box_ratio = 0.8,
  xlim = NULL,
  ylim = NULL
)

Arguments

Details

Supported templates:

• "111" : IV -> mech -> DV (3 boxes)

• "1111": IV -> mech1 -> mech2 -> DV (4 boxes)

• "11111": IV -> mech1 -> mech2 -> mech3 -> DV (4 boxes)

• "1121": IV -> one box -> two boxes -> DV (5 boxes)

• "1211": IV (center) -> two boxes -> one box -> DV (5 boxes)

• "1221": IV (center) -> two parallel paths -> DV (center) (6 boxes)

• "bathtub": like "1221" but only bottom path + dashed direct IV->DV (4 boxes)

• "111_moderator": like "111" but with a moderator variable

• "111_confounder": like "111" but with a confounder variable

• "211" : two IVs -> shared mechanism -> DV (4 boxes)

• "221" : two IVs -> two parallel mechanisms -> DV (5 boxes)

• "2221": two IVs -> two parallel mechanism steps -> DV (7 boxes)

Labels are wrapped to a maximum of 5 lines. If a label would wrap to more than 5 lines (given wrap_width), an error is thrown.

Value

A ggplot object.

Examples

# Simple three-box causal diagram
causal_plot(type = "111")

# With custom labels
causal_plot(
  labels = c("Education", "Income", "Health"),
  type = "111"
)

Launch the causalplot Shiny app

Description

Opens an interactive Shiny application for building causal diagrams and typology plots using the causalplot package.

Usage

run_app(...)

Arguments

Value

This function does not return a value; it launches a Shiny app.

Examples

if (interactive()) {
  run_app()
}

Create a 2x2 typology diagram

Description

Draw a 2x2 typology diagram with four labeled quadrants, double-headed axis arrows, and axis labels using ggplot2. The diagram consists of a single rounded outer box divided into four quadrants by dashed midlines, with double-headed arrows indicating the two dimensions.

Usage

typology(
  type_labels = c("Type 1", "Type 2", "Type 3", "Type 4"),
  x_axis_label = "Dimension 2",
  y_axis_label = "Dimension 1",
  x_axis_values = c("Low", "High"),
  y_axis_values = c("Low", "High"),
  fill = "grey90",
  border_color = NA,
  line_color = "grey50",
  line_linewidth = 0.5,
  corner_radius = 0.12,
  font = "sans",
  text_size = 4,
  text_color = "black",
  axis_text_size = 3.5,
  wrap_width = 20,
  arrow_length = grid::unit(2, "mm"),
  arrow_linewidth = 0.5,
  box_ratio = 0.8,
  xlim = NULL,
  ylim = NULL
)

Arguments

Details

The type_labels vector maps to quadrants as follows:

• type_labels[1]: top-left (high y-axis, low x-axis)

• type_labels[2]: top-right (high y-axis, high x-axis)

• type_labels[3]: bottom-left (low y-axis, low x-axis)

• type_labels[4]: bottom-right (low y-axis, high x-axis)

Value

A ggplot object.

Examples

# Basic typology with defaults
typology()

# Custom labels
typology(
  type_labels = c("Foxes", "Eagles", "Mice", "Snakes"),
  x_axis_label = "Speed",
  y_axis_label = "Size",
  x_axis_values = c("Slow", "Fast"),
  y_axis_values = c("Small", "Large")
)