Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Requirements Engineering |
| Subtitle of host publication | Foundation for Software Quality - 28th International Working Conference, Proceedings |
| Editors | Vincenzo Gervasi, Andreas Vogelsang |
| Chapter | 13216 |
| Pages | 235-250 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| ISBN (electronic) | 978-3-030-98464-9 |
| Publication status | Published - 9 Mar 2022 |
Publication series
| Name | Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics) |
|---|---|
| Volume | 13216 LNCS |
| ISSN (Print) | 0302-9743 |
| ISSN (electronic) | 1611-3349 |
Abstract
Problem: There is no standard methodology to study mental models and existing mental model studies mostly focus on specific elements of a specific software.
Principal results: We have asked students to describe and draw a certain software. We coded the answers to understand the abstraction levels and the software aspects mentioned. We also analyzed differences. Our results showed a strong focus on the interaction and domain level. The users’ drawings primarily represented the user interface. We found only small differences between participants with a computer science background compared to those without one.
Contribution: This paper presents initial insights on the software aspects in the mental model of users concerning existing software. It also describes our method to study this model and ideas for future studies.
Keywords
- Mental model, User understanding, Software aspects, User language analysis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Mathematics(all)
- Theoretical Computer Science
- Computer Science(all)
- General Computer Science
Cite this
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Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality - 28th International Working Conference, Proceedings. ed. / Vincenzo Gervasi; Andreas Vogelsang. 2022. p. 235-250 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics); Vol. 13216 LNCS).
Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Research › peer review
}
TY - GEN
T1 - A Study on the Mental Models of Users Concerning Existing Software
AU - Anders, Michael
AU - Obaidi, Martin
AU - Paech, Barbara
AU - Schneider, Kurt
N1 - Funding Information: Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - 433661943.
PY - 2022/3/9
Y1 - 2022/3/9
N2 - Context and Motivation: Software users describe requirements for new software and give feedback to existing software. Both are well studied in requirements engineering research. However, both are also heavily influenced by the users’ comprehension of existing software. We do not know which aspects of software users have in mind when they talk about it. While their mental model is interesting in itself, knowing this mental model could be helpful both, during requirements elicitation and validation-whenever user statements need to be understood.Problem: There is no standard methodology to study mental models and existing mental model studies mostly focus on specific elements of a specific software.Principal results: We have asked students to describe and draw a certain software. We coded the answers to understand the abstraction levels and the software aspects mentioned. We also analyzed differences. Our results showed a strong focus on the interaction and domain level. The users’ drawings primarily represented the user interface. We found only small differences between participants with a computer science background compared to those without one.Contribution: This paper presents initial insights on the software aspects in the mental model of users concerning existing software. It also describes our method to study this model and ideas for future studies.
AB - Context and Motivation: Software users describe requirements for new software and give feedback to existing software. Both are well studied in requirements engineering research. However, both are also heavily influenced by the users’ comprehension of existing software. We do not know which aspects of software users have in mind when they talk about it. While their mental model is interesting in itself, knowing this mental model could be helpful both, during requirements elicitation and validation-whenever user statements need to be understood.Problem: There is no standard methodology to study mental models and existing mental model studies mostly focus on specific elements of a specific software.Principal results: We have asked students to describe and draw a certain software. We coded the answers to understand the abstraction levels and the software aspects mentioned. We also analyzed differences. Our results showed a strong focus on the interaction and domain level. The users’ drawings primarily represented the user interface. We found only small differences between participants with a computer science background compared to those without one.Contribution: This paper presents initial insights on the software aspects in the mental model of users concerning existing software. It also describes our method to study this model and ideas for future studies.
KW - Mental model
KW - User understanding
KW - Software aspects
KW - User language analysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85127022278&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/978-3-030-98464-9_18
DO - 10.1007/978-3-030-98464-9_18
M3 - Conference contribution
SN - 978-3-030-98463-2
T3 - Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
SP - 235
EP - 250
BT - Requirements Engineering
A2 - Gervasi, Vincenzo
A2 - Vogelsang, Andreas
ER -