A study of the conceptual symbolics of information system development languages

The notation of languages used in Information Systems (IS) development is examined. This is a study of conceptual symbolics. It explores the impact of graphical and textual forms of notation and cognitive task upon the performance of novice and experienced computer users. The following fields in Management Information Systems (MIS) are reviewed: Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE), program design, data base modeling, structured methodologies, and visual languages. Two experiments were conducted. Experiment One examined the impact that Data Flow Diagram (DFD) notation (graphical or textual) and complexity have on a perceptual task performed by novice computer users. Novices using the graphical notations responded faster than with the textual notations. However, at the medium level of complexity, subjects viewing a well designed textual notation performed as well as subjects viewing the graphical notations. Novice computer users preferred graphical notations over textual notations in most cases. Experiment Two examined the impact that DFD notation and cognitive task have upon perceptual tasks performed by experienced computer users. Experienced computer users using the graphical notation perceived faster than when using the textual notation. An experienced user performing a taxonomizing task completed a perceptual task sooner than when performing a sequencing task. Experienced computer users did not favor graphical notations over textual notations in four out of six tasks. Conclusions are that novice and experienced users alike perform faster with graphical notations, novice users tend to prefer graphical notations more than experienced users, subjects viewing a well designed textual notation may perform as well as subjects viewing graphical notations at the medium level of complexity, and a sequencing cognitive task requires more time to complete than a taxonomizing task.