Research Report—The Relevance of Application Domain Knowledge: The Case of Computer Program Comprehension

Teresa M. Shaft and Iris Vessey
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Teresa M. Shaft: Quantitative Methods and Management Information Systems, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104
Iris Vessey: Accounting and Information Systems, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405

Information Systems Research, 1995, vol. 6, issue 3, 286-299

Abstract: The field of software, has, to date, focused almost exclusively on application-independent approaches. In this research, we demonstrate the role of application domain knowledge in the processes used to comprehend computer programs. Our research sought to reconcile two apparently conflicting theories of computer program comprehension by proposing a key role for knowledge of the application domain under examination. We argue that programmers use more top-down comprehension processes when they are familiar with the application domain. When the application domain is unfamiliar, programmers use processes that are more bottom-up in nature. We conducted a protocol analysis study of 24 professional programmers comprehending programs in familiar and unfamiliar application domains. Our findings confirm our thesis.

Keywords: computer program comprehension; application domain; application dependence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1995
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:inm:orisre:v:6:y:1995:i:3:p:286-299

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