Gordon Rugg

ACRE: selecting methods for requirements acquisition

A framework is presented that assists requirements engineers in choosing methods for requirements acquisition. Practitioners are often unaware of the range of methods available. Even when practitioners are aware, most do not foresee the need to use several methods to acquire complete and accurate requirements. One reason for this is the lack of guidelines for method selection. The ACRE framework sets out to overcome these limitations. Method selection is achieved using questions driven from a set of facets which define the strengths and weaknesses of each method. The framework provides guidelines for requirements engineering practitioners. It has undergone evaluation through its presentation to highly experienced requirements engineers. Some results from this evaluation have been incorporated into the presented version of ACRE.

The sorting techniques: a tutorial paper on card sorts, picture sorts and item sorts

Although sorting techniques (e.g. card sorts) are widely used in knowledge acquisition and requirements acquisition, they have received little formal attention compared to related techniques such as repertory grids and laddering. This paper briefly describes the main sorting techniques, and then provides a detailed tutorial on one variety (repeated single-criterion sorts), using a worked example. Guidelines for choice and sequencing of techniques are given, both in relation to varieties of sorting technique and in relation to other techniques. It is concluded that the sorting techniques are a valuable part of the elicitor’s methodological toolkit.

Eliciting information about organizational culture via laddering

. Eliciting information about organizational culture is an important part of system analysis and design. However, eliciting knowledge of this sort is difficult. Laddering is an established technique that is particularly suitable for eliciting information about goals and for eliciting explanations, which are important issues when investigating organizational culture. This paper describes the method, its strengths and limitations, its use in several case studies and its relation to other elicitation techniques. Recommendations for further work are given.

Using card sorts to elicit web page quality attributes

The Internets rapid expansion has given rise to a new set of problems that require new ways to measure and evaluate Web pages. Although numerous guidelines for Web site design have been published, no recognized standards have been set for assessing Web page quality. Card sorts are a good way to obtain quality attributes and measures from respondents without measurement expertise.

AN ELEGANT HOAX? A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE VOYNICH MANUSCRIPT

The Voynich manuscript is a substantial document in what appears to be ciphertext, which has resisted decipherment since its appearance around 1600. It has long been suspected that the Voynich manuscript is a hoax; however, the linguistic complexity of the manuscript has previously been considered good reason for rejecting the hoax hypothesis. The manuscript also contains many unusual linguistic features, and previous research has failed to produce a plausible mechanism for generating substantial bodies of text with these features. This article describes how sixteenth century cryptographic techniques can be adapted to generate text similar to that in the Voynich manuscript. This method can be used either to generate gibberish for a hoax, or to encode plaintext in a decodable cipher. Preliminary results suggest that a document the size of the Voynich manuscript could be produced by a single hoaxer in two or three months. It is concluded that the hoax hypothesis is now a plausible explanation for the Voynich manuscript.

Inferring handedness from lithic evidence.

Until recently research into the origins of human handedness has been hampered by the lack of valid techniques for inferring handedness in pre-modern populations. A method developed by Toth for inferring handedness from lithic evidence, based on orientation of the cortex on lithic flakes, has produced promising results. However, this method is limited in applicability and has a variable signal to noise ratio. The authors describe a separate method, based on the orientation of the cone of percussion in lithic flakes, for inferring handedness from the lithic evidence. This method complements the cortex method. Some preliminary experimental evidence is presented which indicates that handedness can be inferred from lithic evidence using the cone of percussion method. Suggestions for further research are made.

A case study on integrating contextual information with analytical usability evaluation

Abstract The work reported here integrates an analytical evaluation technique, Programmable User Modelling, with established knowledge elicitation techniques; the choice of techniques is guided by a selection framework, ACRE. The study was conducted in conjunction with an ongoing industrial design project. Techniques were selected to obtain domain knowledge in a systematic way; the rationale behind each choice is discussed. The use of “negative scenarios” as a means of assessing the severity of usability findings is introduced.

Sensory impairments and autism: a re-examination of causal modelling.

Sensory impairments are widely reported in autism, but remain largely unexplained by existing models. This article examines Kanner’s causal reasoning and identifies unsupported assumptions implicit in later empirical work. Our analysis supports a heterogeneous causal model for autistic characteristics. We propose that the development of a standardised framework for analysing autistic characteristics would facilitate the identification of sub-groups and the location of biological markers for genetic variation. We also support a neuroconstructivist model proposing that peripheral sensory abnormalities disrupt compilation of complex skills; impact on synaptogenesis, synaptic pruning and myelination; and subsequently manifest themselves as autistic behaviours. This model explains some of the structural and functional brain abnormalities and many of the perceptual, cognitive and attentional features found in autism.

That site looks 88.46% familiar: quantifying similarity of Web page design

: Web page design guidelines produce a pressure towards uniformity; excessive uniformity lays a Web page designer open to accusations of plagiarism. In the past, assessment of similarity between visual products such as Web pages has involved an uncomfortably high degree of subjectivity. This paper describes a method for measuring perceived similarity of visual products which avoids previous problems with subjectivity, and which makes it possible to pool results from respondents without the need for intermediate coding. This method is based on co-occurrence matrices derived from card sorts. It can also be applied to other areas of software development, such as systems analysis and market research.

Guidelines for better scenarios: supporting theories and evidence

Today different types of scenario are used to support a diverse range of requirements engineering tasks. However, little is understood about how to design scenarios and their usage sessions to support these different tasks. This paper presents SACRE, a theoretically-grounded framework which supports a requirements engineering team to design and use scenarios. As well as reporting empirical findings which highlight the importance of designing scenarios to fit the task, it describes findings from disciplines such as cognitive science and knowledge engineering which inform scenario design through guidelines. It ends with proposals to better design scenarios.