The Effects of Symbology and Spatial Arrangement on the Comprehension of Software Specifications.
Abstract
Seventy-two participants were presented with specifications for each of three modular-sized computer programs. Nine different specification formats were prepared for each program. These formats varied along two dimensions: type of symbology and spatial arrangement. The type of symbology included natural language, constrained language (PDL), and ideograms (flowchart symbols). The spatial arrangement included sequential (vertical flow), branching (flowchart), and hierarchical (tree-like). The participants answered a series of comprehension questions on each program presented interactively on a CRT using only the program specifications. Three types of questions were presented. These included the forward-tracing of conditions to determine the next process to be executed, backward-tracing to determine the conditions which must be satisfied for a process to be executed, and tracing of variable values (input-output). Both forward- and backward-tracing questions were answered more quickly from specifications presented in constrained language or ideograms than in natural language. Forward-tracing questions were answered most quickly from a branching arrangement, and backward-tracing questions were answered more quickly from branching and hierarchical arrangements. Response times to the input-output questions did not vary significantly as a function of they type of symbology or the spatial arrangement. These results extend previous research on presentation formats by demonstrating the separate contributions of symbology and spatial arrangement to comprehension. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA091614
Entities
People
- Bill Curtis
- Elizabeth Kruesi
- Sylvia B. Sheppard
Organizations
- General Electric