Conceptualizing Requirements Using User Stories and Use Cases: A Controlled Experiment. A Controlled Experiment

Fabiano Dalpiaz, Arnon Sturm

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

[Context and motivation] Notations for expressing requirements are often proposed without explicit consideration of their suitability for specific tasks. Consequently, practitioners may choose a sub-optimal notation, thereby affecting task performance. [Question/problem] We investigate the adequacy of two well-known notations: use cases and user stories, as a starting point for the manual derivation of a static conceptual model. In particular, we examine the completeness and correctness of the derived conceptual model. [Principal ideas/results] We conducted a two-factor, two-treatment controlled experiment with 118 subjects. The results indicate that for deriving conceptual models, user stories fit better than use cases. It seems that the repetitions in user stories and their conciseness contribute to these results. [Contribution] The paper calls for evaluating requirements notations in the context of various requirements engineering tasks and for providing evidence regarding the aspects that need to be taken into account when selecting a requirement notation.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationREFSQ
Subtitle of host publicationFoundation for Software Quality - 26th International Working Conference, REFSQ 2020, Proceedings
EditorsNazim Madhavji, Liliana Pasquale
PublisherSpringer Cham
Pages221-238
Number of pages18
ISBN (Print)9783030444280
DOIs
StatePublished - 18 Mar 2020
Event26th International Working Conference on Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality, REFSQ 2020 - Pisa, Italy
Duration: 24 Mar 202027 Mar 2020

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume12045 LNCS
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference26th International Working Conference on Requirements Engineering: Foundation for Software Quality, REFSQ 2020
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityPisa
Period24/03/2027/03/20

Keywords

  • Conceptual modeling
  • Controlled experiment
  • Requirements engineering
  • Use cases
  • User stories

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Theoretical Computer Science
  • General Computer Science

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