Assessing the influence of stereotypes on the comprehension of UML sequence diagrams: A family of experiments

摘要: Context: The conventional wisdom states that stereotypes are used to clarify or extend the meaning of model elements and consequently should be helpful in comprehending diagram semantics. Objective: main goal this work is present a family experiments we have carried out investigate whether use improves comprehension UML sequence diagrams. Method: consists an experiment two replications with 78, 29 36 undergraduate Computer Science students, respectively. diagrams without was analyzed from three different perspectives borrowed Cognitive Theory Multimedia Learning (CTML): semantic comprehension, retention transfer. In addition, meta-analysis study integrate data samples. Results: statistical analysis obtained each separately indicates proposed helps improving diagrams, especially when subjects not familiar domain. Conclusions: set presented seem for better well-known domains. Although further research necessary strengthening these results, introducing both academia industry could interesting practice checking validity results.