Effect of Automatic Processing on Specification of Problem Solutions for Computer Programs

摘要

The ability of computer users to specify problem solutions with the help of example solutions was investigated as a function of the user's background and experience, various levels of processing and various levels of problem complexity. Two participant groups (programmers and bookkeepers/accountants) working with three levels of problem complexity and three levels of processor complexity were used. The experiment task employed in this study required specification of a logic for selection of a Navy Task force. The results showed that specification of problem solutions by example-solutions led to low rates of errors-of-commission. Further, the rate of errors-of-omission was significantly affected by the degree of generaliztion of the example inputs by the automatic processor. The results also suggested that the strategy used in developing the example solutions may be a significant factor in the generation of accurate problem solution specificaions.