Abstract
To apply Extended Entity Relationship Model (EER) is a good method for representing requirements on information systems, because of its high level of abstraction. Although it is very close to the user, it is not so trivial when some constructs, such as higher order relationships, are used. This paper describes the characterisation and several important results of an experiment performed at our university in order to show some of the difficu lties found when novice students and practitioners use ternary relationships. Some special topics in identifying ternary relationships such as the importance of the domain of text and the intersection data are also investigated. In order to guide and help users in the design task, these results are introduced in PANDORA Case Tool, a research project which tries to serve as a methodological assistance tool.
Highlights
Extended Entity Relationship Model (EER) model is well known as one of the best conceptual models in representing data requirements within database design, because of simplicity and easy conceptualisation (Hitchman, 1995)
In order to guide and help users in the design task, these results are introduced in PANDORA Case Tool, a research project which tries to serve as a methodological assistance tool
Two different matters can be arisen in detecting relationships: 1. A relationship is a more complicated semantic concept than others due to its characteristics: degree, connectivity and cardinality constraints (Martinez et al, 2000)
Summary
EER model is well known as one of the best conceptual models in representing data requirements within database design, because of simplicity and easy conceptualisation (Hitchman, 1995). Some semantic constructs are not well understood for novice and practitioners and are difficult to be detected by expert designers. Chen’s first research (Chen, 1976) proposed certain rules in order to detect constructs; for instance, an entity can be detected by a substantive, an attribute by an adjective and a relationship by a verb. Batra (Batra and Zanakis, 1994) states that “Past research has shown that non-experts have little or no difficulty in modelling entities and attributes, but considerable problems in modelling relationships”. Two different matters can be arisen in detecting relationships: 1. Two different matters can be arisen in detecting relationships: 1. A relationship is a more complicated semantic concept than others due to its characteristics: degree (number of entities that participate in a relationship), connectivity (mapping among the instances of each entity) and cardinality constraints (maximum and minimum number of instances in one entity that can be associated in a relationship to a single instance in other entity) (Martinez et al, 2000)
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