Inquiry game name
Temporal decomposition

Object or form
Temporal decomposition can help answer questions like “What are the differences of a variable or variables, or other values of interest, in time periods within a longer time?” The time periods must be as independent as possible with clearly defined boundaries.

Rules
1. The overall time period must be clearly defined.
2. Subtime periods must be as independent as possible.
3. The main time period must be divided completely into subareas, although not necessarily of equal importance.
4. Subtime periods do not have to be the same length.
5. Variables and values of interest must be elemental, that is, not confounded or mixed variables.
6. Variables and values of interest must be relevant to the inquiry question.

Moves
1. Define the main period of time.
2. Revise the main period of time.
3. Add a subtime period.
4. Revise a subtime period.
5. Add a variable or value.
6. Revise a variable or value.

Levels
1. Time period
2. Subtime periods
3. Values