Evaluating the Effect of Composite States on the Understandability of UML Statechart Diagrams

Cruz-Lemus, José A.; Genero, Marcela; Manso, M. Esperanza; Piattini, Mario

doi:10.1007/11557432_9

Cited by 32 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Therefore, we thought that composite states deserved further investigation, and performed specific experiments in order to study deeply the effects of composite states on the understandability of UML statechart diagrams. The complete process and results, that indicated that using composite states did not significantly improve the understandability of simple UML statechart diagrams were published in [20].…”

Section: Components Of Structural Complexitymentioning

confidence: 97%

The impact of structural complexity on the understandability of UML statechart diagrams

Cruz-Lemus

Maes

Genero

et al. 2010

Information Sciences

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Section: Components Of Structural Complexitymentioning

confidence: 97%

The impact of structural complexity on the understandability of UML statechart diagrams

Cruz-Lemus

Maes

Genero

et al. 2010

Information Sciences

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“…The controlled experiment performed by Cruz-Lemus et al [7] highlights that the use of composite states in UML statecharts improves the understandability of the diagrams when subjects had previous experience in using them. Similar results have been obtained by Briand et al [4] who establish that training is required in order to achieve better results when UML is completed with the use of OCL (Object Constraint Language) [14].…”

Section: Related Workmentioning

confidence: 98%

Assessing the Support of ER and UML Class Diagrams during Maintenance Activities on Data Models

Lucia

Gravino

Oliveto

et al. 2008

2008 12th European Conference on Software Maintenance and Reengineering

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We present the results of two controlled experiments carried out to compare the support given by the ER and UML class diagrams during the maintenance of data models. The experiments involved Master and Bachelor students performing maintenance tasks on data models represented by ER and UML class diagrams. The results reveal that the two notations give in general the same support. In particular, the correctness level achieved by a subject performing the task on data model represented by an ER diagram are comparable with the correctness level achieved by the same subject performing the task on a different data model represented by an UML class diagram. Moreover, by discriminating the levels of ability (high vs. low) and experience (graduate vs. undergraduate) of subjects we also provide some consideration about the influence of such factors on the correctness level achieved by subjects. In particular, we observe that UML class diagrams better support subjects with high ability than ER diagrams, while no difference can be observed considering subjects with low ability. Regarding the experience factor the results reveal no difference in the correctness level achieved by graduate and undergraduate students.

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“…The subjects were allowed to check the diagram to answer the question. This is a kind of task we had already used in previous studies (Cruz-Lemus et al 2005a;Cruz-Lemus et al 2005b). With this test, we studied the UEffec variable.…”

Section: Second Experiments and Replication (E2 And R2)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the understandability of UML statechart diagrams with composite states—A family of empirical studies

et al. 2009

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The main goal of this work is to present a family of empirical studies that we have carried out to investigate whether the use of composite states may improve the understandability of UML statechart diagrams derived from class diagrams. Our hypotheses derive from conventional wisdom, which says that hierarchical modeling mechanisms are helpful in mastering the complexity of a software system. In our research, we have carried out three empirical studies, consisting of five experiments in total. The studies differed somewhat as regards the size of the UML statechart models, though their size and the complexity of the models were chosen so that they could be analyzed by the subjects within a limited time period. The studies also differed with respect to the type of subjects (students vs. professionals), the familiarity of the subjects with the domains of the diagrams, and other factors. To integrate the results obtained from each of the five experiments, we performed a meta-analysis study which allowed us to take into account the differences between studies and to obtain the overall effect that the use of composite states has on the understandability of UML statechart diagrams throughout all the experiments. The results Empir Software Eng (2009) obtained are not completely conclusive. They cast doubts on the usefulness of composite states for a better understanding and memorizing of UML statechart diagrams. Composite states seem only to be helpful for acquiring knowledge from the diagrams. At any rate, it should be noted that these results are affected by the previous experience of the subjects on modeling, as well as by the size and complexity of the UML statechart diagrams we used, so care should be taken when generalizing our results.

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Evaluating the Effect of Composite States on the Understandability of UML Statechart Diagrams

Cited by 32 publications

References 7 publications

The impact of structural complexity on the understandability of UML statechart diagrams

The impact of structural complexity on the understandability of UML statechart diagrams

Assessing the Support of ER and UML Class Diagrams during Maintenance Activities on Data Models

Assessing the understandability of UML statechart diagrams with composite states—A family of empirical studies

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