Reasoning of novice and experienced software designers on creating UML class diagrams

Abstract

Currently, UML class diagrams are widely used in Software Engineering, especially on software designprocess. Simultaneously, people realize that the reasoning plays a significant role in software design process. This studyisinvestigatingthe reasoning of novice and experienced software designers on creating UML class diagrams by interviewing student and expert participants. It concludes that (1) the reasoning of novice and experienced software designers on creating UML class diagrams can be described using sevenreasoning activities {RS, DC, DA, DM, DAM, CD, NO} (2) experienced software designers perform morereasoningactivities and spendmore time on creating UML class diagrams than novicesones(3) some beneficial phenomenarelevant to the reasoning process are found on reasoning structure, reasoning confidence, reasoning sources and reasoning principles.