Measuring User Comprehension of Inference Rules in Euler Diagrams

Sven Linker, James Burton, Andrew Blake

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding with ISSN or ISBNConference contribution with ISSN or ISBNpeer-review

Abstract

Proofs created by diagrammatic theorem provers are not de- signed with human readers in mind. We say that one proof, P1 , is more “readable” than another, P2 , if users make fewer errors in understanding which inference rules were applied in P1 than in P2 , and do so in a shorter time. We analysed the readability of individual rules in an empirical study which required users to identify the rules used in inferences. We found that increased clutter (redundant syntax) in the premiss diagrams affects readability, and that rule applications which require the user to combine information from several diagrams are sometimes less readable than those which focus on a single diagram. We provide an explanation based on mental models.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationDiagrams 2016
Place of PublicationBerlin, Germany
PublisherSpringer
Pages32-39
Number of pages8
ISBN (Print)9783319423333
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2016
EventDiagrams 2016 - Philadelphia, USA, 7-10 August 2016,
Duration: 1 Aug 2016 → …

Conference

ConferenceDiagrams 2016
Period1/08/16 → …

Bibliographical note

© The Author(s) 2016 M. Jamnik et al.

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