Eliciting a Sensemaking Process from Verbal Protocols of Reverse Engineers

Abstract

A process of sensemaking in reverse engineering was elicited from verbal protocols of reverse engineers as they investigated the assembly code of executable programs. Four participants were observed during task performance and verbal protocols were collected and analyzed from two of the participants to determine their problem-solving states and characterize likely transitions between those states. From this analysis, a highlevel process of sensemaking is described which represents hypothesis generation and information-seeking behaviors in reverse engineering within a framework of goal-directed planning. Future work in validation and application of the process is discussed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 2012
Accession Number
ADA576945

Entities

People

  • Adam R. Bryant
  • Gilbert L. Peterson

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Algorithms
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Assembly
  • Cognition
  • Cognitive Science
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Engineering
  • Engineers
  • Information Processing
  • Information Science
  • Operating Systems
  • Psychology
  • Reverse Engineering
  • Task Performance And Analysis

Readers

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Instructional Design and Training Evaluation.
  • Semiconductor Device Technology