The role of prior experience and task characteristics in object-oriented modeling: an empirical study
✍ Scribed by Ritu Agarwal; Atish P. Sinha; Mohan Tanniru
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 1996
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 335 KB
- Volume
- 45
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1071-5819
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
The object-oriented methodology for systems analysis and design has generated considerable interest recently . Object-orientation represents a fundamental shift in focus from the traditional process-oriented approaches that have dominated software development for over two decades . Although there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that systems analysts experienced in process-oriented modeling approaches will find it dif ficult to apply objective-oriented methodologies , there is no empirical work investigating the relationship between a procedural mindset and an ability to learn and apply object-oriented concepts . Prior research in human problem solving , however , suggests that the ef ficacy of a systems analysis and design methodology should be judged in the context of the task to which it is applied . To explore the ef fects of prior experience and task characteristics on performance in systems analysis and design , we conducted an experiment in which two groups of subjects applied the object-oriented methodology to two types of tasks , one process-oriented and the other object-oriented . One group had significant prior experience in process-oriented methodologies , while the other group had no formal experience .
Both groups were provided identical training in object-oriented analysis and design prior to the experiment . The results of the study suggest that both prior experience and task characteristics play a role in determining performance . The implications that follow for research and practice are discussed .