Last updated on Monday, October 06, 2025
@inproceedings{DuBois_QIM2007,
author = {Bart {Du Bois} and Christian F. J. Lange and
Serge Demeyer and Michel R. V. Chaudron},
booktitle = {Models in Software Engineering, Workshops and
Symposia at MoDELS 2006},
editor = {Thomas Kuhne},
pages = {91-100},
publisher = {Springer-Verlag},
series = {Lecture Notes on Computer Science},
title = {A Qualitative Investigation of {UML} Modeling
Conventions},
volume = {LNCS 4364},
year = {2007},
abstract = {Analogue to the more familiar notion of coding
conventions, modeling conventions attempt to ensure
uniformity and prevent common modeling defects. While
it has been shown that modeling conventions can
decrease defect density, it is currently unclear
whether this decreased defect density results in
higher model quality, i.e., whether models created
with modeling conventions exhibit higher fitness for
purpose. In a controlled experiment1 with 27
master-level computer science students, we evaluated
quality differences between UML analysis and design
models created with and without modeling conventions.
We were unable to discern significant differences
w.r.t. the clarity, completeness and validity of the
information the model is meant to represent. We
interpret our findings as an indication that modeling
conventions should guide the analyst in identifying
what information to model, as well as how to model
it, lest their effectiveness be limited to optimizing
merely syntactic quality.},
annote = {workshoppaper},
}