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Expertise in professional software design: a process study
1Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. ao_sonnentag@macmail.psy.uva.nl
The Journal of Applied Psychology
|November 7, 1998
Summary
High-performing software designers use local planning and feedback processing. Moderate performers focus on requirements analysis and irrelevant thoughts, with experience not explaining performance differences.
Area of Science:
- Software Engineering
- Cognitive Science
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Understanding the cognitive processes underlying effective software design is crucial for improving developer performance.
- Identifying distinct strategies employed by high versus moderate performers can inform training and best practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the cognitive strategies and behaviors of high-performing versus moderate-performing software designers during a design task.
- To determine if differences in performance are related to experience level or specific task-related cognitions.
Main Methods:
- Forty professional software designers participated in a software design task.
- High performers were identified via peer nomination and design performance metrics.
- Verbal protocol analysis was used to compare the cognitive processes of 12 high and 12 moderate performers.
Main Results:
- High performers utilized local planning and more feedback processing.
- Moderate performers focused on requirements analysis and task-irrelevant cognitions.
- No significant differences in experience were found between performance groups.
Conclusions:
- Software design expertise is characterized by specific cognitive strategies rather than years of experience.
- Local planning and effective feedback integration are key differentiators for high software design performance.
- Future interventions should focus on cultivating these strategic approaches in designers.