ADAGE: a framework for supporting user-driven ad-hoc data analysis processes

Data analysis is an important part of the scientific process carried out by domain experts in data-intensive science. Despite the availability of several software tools and systems, their use in combination with each other for conducting complex types of analyses is a very difficult task for non-IT experts. The main contribution of this paper is to introduce an open architectural framework based on service-oriented computing (SOC) principles called the Ad-hoc DAta Grid Environment (ADAGE) framework that can be used to guide the development of domain-specific problem-solving environments or systems to support data analysis activities. Through an application of the ADAGE framework and a prototype implementation that supports the analysis of financial news and market data, this paper demonstrates that systems developed based on the framework allow users to effectively express common analysis processes. This paper also outlines some limitations as well as avenues for future research.