On the Impact of Layout Quality to Understanding UML Diagrams: Diagram Type and Expertise

Harald Störrle

doi:10.1109/VLHCC.2012.6344480

On the Impact of Layout Quality to Understanding UML Diagrams: Diagram Type and Expertise

Harald Störrle

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Article in proceedings › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Practical experience suggests that the use and understanding of UML diagrams is greatly affected by the quality of their layout. In previous work, we have presented evidence supporting this intuition. This contrasts with earlier experiments that yielded weak or inconclusive evidence only. In the current paper, we expand on our earlier experiments by varying both diagram types and populations studied. We find no difference in the beneficial evidence of good layout wrt. diagram types. We also find support for the hypothesis that experts benefit less than novices. While still lacking independent replication of our earlier results, these results add further evidence in support of our hypothesis.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2012 IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing (VL/HCC)
Publisher	IEEE
Publication date	2012
Pages	49-56
ISBN (Print)	978-1-4673-0852-6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/VLHCC.2012.6344480
Publication status	Published - 2012
Event	IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing (VL/HCC 2012) - Innsbruck, Austria Duration: 30 Sept 2012 → 4 Oct 2012 http://vlhcc2012.di.unisa.it/

Conference

Conference	IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing (VL/HCC 2012)
Country/Territory	Austria
City	Innsbruck
Period	30/09/2012 → 04/10/2012
Internet address	http://vlhcc2012.di.unisa.it/

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10.1109/VLHCC.2012.6344480

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title = "On the Impact of Layout Quality to Understanding UML Diagrams: Diagram Type and Expertise",

abstract = "Practical experience suggests that the use and understanding of UML diagrams is greatly affected by the quality of their layout. In previous work, we have presented evidence supporting this intuition. This contrasts with earlier experiments that yielded weak or inconclusive evidence only. In the current paper, we expand on our earlier experiments by varying both diagram types and populations studied. We find no difference in the beneficial evidence of good layout wrt. diagram types. We also find support for the hypothesis that experts benefit less than novices. While still lacking independent replication of our earlier results, these results add further evidence in support of our hypothesis.",

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note = "IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing (VL/HCC 2012) ; Conference date: 30-09-2012 Through 04-10-2012",

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AB - Practical experience suggests that the use and understanding of UML diagrams is greatly affected by the quality of their layout. In previous work, we have presented evidence supporting this intuition. This contrasts with earlier experiments that yielded weak or inconclusive evidence only. In the current paper, we expand on our earlier experiments by varying both diagram types and populations studied. We find no difference in the beneficial evidence of good layout wrt. diagram types. We also find support for the hypothesis that experts benefit less than novices. While still lacking independent replication of our earlier results, these results add further evidence in support of our hypothesis.

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DO - 10.1109/VLHCC.2012.6344480

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T2 - IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing (VL/HCC 2012)

Y2 - 30 September 2012 through 4 October 2012

ER -

On the Impact of Layout Quality to Understanding UML Diagrams: Diagram Type and Expertise

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