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Dissertation Information for Daniel Joyce-Villanova

NAME:
- Daniel Joyce-Villanova
- (Alias) Daniel Joyce

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Computer Science

SCHOOL:
- Temple University (USA) (1987)

ADVISORS:
- None

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- None

MPACT Status: Incomplete - Inspected

Title: AN IDENTIFICATION AND INVESTIGATION OF SOFTWARE DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR USING ENCAPSULATION UNITS

Abstract: "A study of computer science literature and psychology research was made to identify the types of conceptual units which should be captured within encapsulation units. Based on this study, guidelines were developed to aid in the architectural design and implementation of software systems, in order to make optimal use of encapsulation units. The guidelines encourage the software architect to: (1) use information hiding, (2) use data abstraction, (3) model real world objects, (4) isolate dependencies which are likely to change, (5) capture major data transformations, (6) generalize, and (7) isolate common definitions.

An experiment was performed to investigate the consequent effects of guideline and encapsulation unit use during design and coding on the adaptive maintenance of a program. A blocked counterbalanced experimental design was used, with the individual subject providing the basic unit of analysis. The levels of the independent variable were provided by the design bases of the programs given to the subjects for maintenance. The dependent variables were measures of the maintenance process and product. An analysis of the experimental data indicated a few statistically significant differences but the results were inconclusive as to the relative effect of guideline and encapsulation unit use on the initial phases of the maintenance process.

A detailed investigation of the subjects' final programs provided strong indications that programs designed with the aid of the guidelines and coded with encapsulation units were less likely to be corrupted during maintenance changes. It is therefore suggested that in the long run these programs would be more easily and successfully maintained.

This dissertation describes the development of the guidelines, gives three major examples of their application, explains the impetus for the chosen experimental design, describes the experimental design, and presents the results of the data analysis and of the detailed investigation of the final programs."

MPACT Scores for Daniel Joyce-Villanova

A = 0
C = 1
A+C = 1
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:02:58

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