Collection and Analysis of Dialogue Protocols for the Question-Answering Facilityof the Entity-Relationship Modeling Advisor

摘要

An experimental procedure was set up to simulate the conditions under which anintelligent computer facility could help a user create a conceptual data model. This was accomplished by having a human advisor give assistance within constraints similar to those of the computerized facility. The semantics of the conceptual model were made available to the human expert so that heuristic rules associated with the area of application could be collected. The task consisted of designing a conceptual data model for an unsatisfactory condition report management system for use in equipment maintenance. The user had to develop a valid conceptual model of this system, in the entity relationship formalism, using the Silverrun-ERM automated modeling tool. To analyze the protocols, an adapted version of dialogue game theory was applied. Five question types were identified. The results show that the most important need of the user involves a validation question seeking the evaluation of a hypothetical or current state of the user's conceptual design. This activity will offer a basis for the functional specification of a computer facility capable of constructing an educational response to questions dealing with conceptual data design.