ggseqplot: ggplotify sequence data plots

The main goal of {ggseqplot} is to provide functions that reproduce the sequence plots from {TraMineR}’s seqplot using {ggplot2}. These plots are produced on the basis of state sequence objects defined with TraMineR::seqdef. The package automates the reshaping and plotting of sequence data. This library literally builds on the excellent work of the {TraMineR} and {ggplot2} developers and uses several of the their functions to produce ggplot2-flavored figures.

Note, that this library was not written because I personally dislike the plots produced by {TraMineR}, but rather because I am normally using {ggplot2} instead of base R’s plot environment for visualizing data. {TraMineR} was developed before {ggplot2} was as popular as it is today and back then many users were more familiar with coding base R plots. To date, however, many researchers and students are more accustomed to using {ggplot2} and prefer to draw on the related skills and experiences instead of learning how to refine base R plots just for the single purpose of visualizing sequence data.

{ggseqplot} contains the following functions:

• ggseqdplot (equivalent to TraMineR::seqdplot)
• ggseqeplot (equivalent to TraMineRextras::seqplot.tentrop)
• ggseqmsplot (equivalent to TraMineR::seqmsplot)
• ggseqmtplot (equivalent to TraMineR::seqmtplot)
• ggstrqeplot (based on transitions rates computed with TraMineR::seqtrate)
• ggseqiplot (equivalent to TraMineR::seqIplot)
• ggseqfplot (equivalent to TraMineR::seqfplot)
• ggseqrplot (equivalent to TraMineR::seqrplot)
• ggseqrfplot (equivalent to TraMineRextras::seqplot.rf)

If you have change requests or find errors, create an issue on github or send me an email.

A complementing vignette outlines how {ggseqplot} reshapes sequence data generated with {TraMineR} functions to visualize them using {ggplot2}. Moreover, it illustrates how to adjust the baseline output using familiar {ggplot2} functions (and add-ons).

Installation

You can install the CRAN version of {ggseqplot} by typing:

install.packages("ggseqplot")

The development version can be installed with:

devtools::install_github("maraab23/ggseqplot")

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Gilbert Ritschard, Tim Liao, and Emanuela Struffolino for their comments on earlier versions of this library.