Titel
MetaMorph: formalization of domain-specific conceptual modeling methods—an evaluative case study, juxtaposition and empirical assessment
Autor*in
Wilfrid Utz
OMiLAB NPO
Abstract
Models have evolved from mere pictures supporting human understanding and communication to sophisticated knowledge structures processable by machines and establish value through their processing capabilities. This entails an inevitable need for computer-understandable modeling languages and causes formalization to be a crucial part in the lifecycle of engineering a modeling method. An appropriate formalism must be a means for providing a structural definition to enable a theoretical investigation of conceptual modeling languages and a unique, unambiguous way of specifying the syntax and semantics of an arbitrary modeling language. For this purpose, it must be generic and open to capturing any domain and any functionality. This paper provides a pervasive description of the formalism MetaMorph based on logic and model theory—an approach fulfilling the requirements above for modeling method engineering. The evaluation of the formalism is presented following three streams of work: First, two evaluative case studies illustrate the applicability of MetaMorph formalism concept by concept on the modeling language ProVis from the domain of stochastic education and the well-known Entity-Relationship language. ProVis as well as ER comprise only a few objects and relation types but with high interconnection and expressive power and are therefore considered interesting specimens for formalization. Second, a comprehensive juxtaposition of MetaMorph to three other formalization approaches based on different foundational theories is outlined concept by concept to underpin the formalism design. Third, an empirical evaluation has been performed, assessing the usability and adequacy of the formalism within a classroom assessment. The results allow for conclusions on the completeness, intuitiveness, and complexity as well as on interdependencies with engineers’ skills.
Stichwort
Conceptual modelingAgile modeling method engineeringDomain-specific modeling languageFormal languageLogicEvaluation
Objekt-Typ
Sprache
Englisch [eng]
Persistent identifier
https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:1632958
Erschienen in
Titel
Software and Systems Modeling
Band
22
ISSN
1619-1366
Erscheinungsdatum
2022
Seitenanfang
75
Seitenende
110
Verlag
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Erscheinungsdatum
2022
Zugänglichkeit
Rechteangabe
© The Author(s) 2022

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