Peter, >> I have been reading "Classification and Cognition" by Estes. >> Which offers some interesting ways of measuring the similarity >> of an object to a category. The paper "Learning and memorization >Raymonde Guindon (and others) demonstrated that the developers >understanding of the solution and problem develop in parallel. Hence, >while a developer is designing / coding a system, their understanding of >what the problem and solution is, is likely to change (and hence also >their perception on the most appropriate form of classification).
I am very familiar with this situation. The problem is that the similarity comparisons tend to be done in peoples heads, without any kind of formal analysis. There is a good example of putting the four black/white triangles/squares into two categories, in Estes. The similarity to category measure depends on how they are grouped. The interesting bit is that it is possible to find a classification that maximises the similarity to category. If it is possible to show that these similarity measures can be applied to software, then developers can be given a tool that will help them create categories that require less effort to learn the membership rules of (the implication being that fewer mistakes will be made). >> o it takes no account of what developers might consider to >> be similar functions. > >Or indeed what different developers might consider to be similar >functions. Studies of novice and expert OO programmers have shown that >novices tend to be more strict in their application of OO principles to >software, which can also affect their understanding of similarity. Do you have any references? It is not another one of those studies where third year undergraduates are considered experts is it? derek -- Derek M Jones tel: +44 (0) 1252 520 667 Knowledge Software Ltd mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Applications Standards Conformance Testing http://www.knosof.co.uk - Automatic footer for [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------------------------------- To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] unsubscribe discuss To join the announcements list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe announce To receive a help file, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] help This list is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/discuss%40ppig.org/ If you have any problems or questions, please mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
