article

User-database interface: the effect of abstraction levels on query performance*

Authors:

Hock Chuan Chan,

Keng Leng SiauAuthors Info & Claims

MIS Quarterly, Volume 17, Issue 4

Pages 441 - 464

https://doi.org/10.2307/249587

Published: 01 December 1993 Publication History

Abstract

A common classification of data models is based on their abstraction levels: physical, logical and conceptual. The user-database interaction can be similarly classified. For the conceptual-level interaction, the user and the database exchange information on the user's world, e.g., information of entities, relationships, and attributes. For the logical-level interaction, the user and the database communicate based on concepts in the database system, e.g., relations and join operations. We expect users to be familiar with concepts in their world but not the concepts in the database system. This is especially so for infrequent or naive database users. The conceptual level should therefore be easier because it is semantically closer to the user. This deduction was tested in an experiment using the entity-relationship (ER) model for the conceptual-level model and the relational model for the logical-level model. The results were affirmative. The users at the conceptual level had 38 percent higher accuracy and 16 percent higher confidence than users at the logical level. The conceptual-level users took 65 percent less time than the logical-level users, and it took 33 percent less time to train them. The differences were statistically significant with p < 0.003. The huge differences indicate that noticeable improvements can be made by switching from the relational model to the ER model. The experiment also provided valuable data on errors commonly made by users.

References

[1]

ANSI/X3/SPARC Study Group on Data Base Management Systems. "Interim Report, FDT," ACM SIGMOD (7:2), 1975.

[2]

Atzeni, P. and Chen, P.P. "Completeness of Query Languages for the Entity Model," in Entity-Relationship Approach to Information Modeling and Analysis, P.P. Chen (ed.), North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1981, pp. 109-122.

[3]

Bachman, C.W. "The Programmer as Navigator," Communications of the ACM (16:1), November 1973, pp. 653-658.

Digital Library

[4]

Batini, C., Ceri, S., and Navathe, S.B. Conceptual Database Design, An Entity Relationship Approach, The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company Inc., Menlo Park, CA, 1992.

[5]

Batra D., Hoffer, J.A., and Bostrom, R.P. "Comparing Representations with Relational and EER Models," Communications of the ACM (33:2), February 1990, pp. 126-139.

Digital Library

[6]

Chamberlain, D.D. "A Summary of User Experience with the SQL Data Sublanguage," Proceedings of the International Conference on Data Bases, July 1980, Aberdeen, Scotland, pp. 181-203.

[7]

Chamberlain, D.D. and Boyce, R.F. "SEQUEL: A Structured English Query Language," Proceedings of the 1974 ACM SIGMOD Workshop on Data Description, Access, and Control, Ann Arbor, MI, May 1974.

[8]

Chan H.C. A Knowledge Level User Interface Using the Entity-Relationship Model, unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC., 1989.

[9]

Chan H.C. "An Entity-Relationship Enhanced Logic System," The Second International Symposium on Database Systems for Advanced Applications, Tokyo, April 1991, pp. 401-410.

[10]

Chen P.P. "The Entity-Relationship Model: Towards a Unified View of Data," ACM Transactions on Database Systems (1:1), March 1976, pp. 9-36.

Digital Library

[11]

Chen, P.P. "An Algebra for a Directional Binary Entity Relationship Model," Proceedings of the First International Conference on Data Engineering, April 1984, pp. 37-41.

[12]

Date, C.J. An Introduction to Database Systems, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1982.

[13]

Date, C.J. A Guide to the SOL Standard, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1987.

[14]

Date, C.J. An Introduction to Database Systems, Volume I, 5th edition, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1990a.

[15]

Date, C.J. "What's Wrong with SQL?" in Relational Database Writings, 1985-1989, C.J. Date (ed.), Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1990b.

[16]

Elmasri, R. and Navathe, S.B. Fundamentals of Database Systems, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1989.

[17]

Gogolla, M. and Hohenstein, U. "Towards a Semantic View of an Extended Entity-Relationship Model," ACM Transactions on Database Systems (16:3) September 1991, pp.369-416.

Digital Library

[18]

Goldstein, R.C. Database Technology and Management, John Wiley, New York, NY, 1985.

[19]

Gould, J.D. and Ascher, R. "Use of an IQF-like Query Language by Non-Programmers," IBM Research Report, RC-5279, Yorktown Heights, NY, 1975.

[20]

Gray, P.M.D., Kulkarni, K.G., and Paton, N.W. Object-Oriented Databases, A Semantic Data Model Approach, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1992.

[21]

Greenblatt, D. and Waxman, J. "A Study of Three Database Query Languages," in Databases: Improving Usability and Representativeness, B. Shneiderman (ed.), Academic Press, New York, NY, 1978.

[22]

Hawryszkiewycz, I. T. Relational Database Design, Prentice Hall, Paramato, NSW, Australia, 1990.

[23]

Hohenstein, U. "Automatic Transformation of an Entity-Relationship Query Language into SQL," Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Entity-Relationship Approach, Toronto, Canada, October 1989, pp. 309-327.

[24]

Hughes, J.G. Object-oriented Databases, Prentice Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK, 1991.

[25]

Jarvenpaa, S.L. and Machesky, J.J. "End User Learning Behavior in Data Analysis and Data Modeling Tools," Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Information Systems, San Diego, CA, December 1986, pp. 152-167.

[26]

Jih, W.J.K., Bradbard, D.A., Snyder, CA, Thompson, N.GA "The Effects of Relational and Entity-Relationship Data Models on Query Performance of End-Users," International Journal on Man-Machine Studies (31:3), September 1989, pp. 257-267.

Digital Library

[27]

Junet, M. "Design and Implementation of an Extended Entity-Relationship Data Base Management System (ECRINS/86)," in Entity-Relationship Approach, S. Spaccapietra (ed.), Elsevier Sciences Publishers, New York, NY, 1987.

[28]

Ling, T.W. "A Normal Form for Entity-Relationship Diagrams," The 4th International Conference on Entity-Relationship Approach, IEEE Computer Society Press, Washington, D.C., 1985.

[29]

Lochovsky, F.H. and Tsichritzis, D.C. "User Performance Considerations in DBMS Selection," Proceedings, ACM SIGMOD, Toronto, Canada, August 1977, pp. 128-134.

[30]

McCormick, J.J. "CIOs Reassess Priorities," Information Week, December 16, 1991, p. 13.

[31]

Negri, M., Pelagatti, G., and Sbattella, L. "Formal Semantics of SQL Queries," ACM Transactions on Database Systems (17:3), September 1991, pp. 513-534.

Digital Library

[32]

Niederman, F., Brancheau, J.C., and Wetherbe, J.C. "Information Systems Management Issues for the 1990s," MIS Quarterly (15:4), December 1991, pp. 475-500.

Digital Library

[33]

Olive, A. "Analysis of Conceptual and Logical Models in Information Systems Design Methodologies," in Information Systems Design Methodologies, T.W. Olle, H.G. Sol, and C.J. Tully (eds.), Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, IFIP 1983.

[34]

Parent, C. and Spaccapietra, S. "An Entity-Relationship Algebra," First International Conference on Data Engineering, Los Angeles, CA, April 1984, pp. 500-509.

[35]

Parent, C. and Spaccapietra, S. "Enhancing the Operational Semantics of the Entity-Relationship Model," in Data Semantics (DS-1), T.B. Steel, Jr. and R. Meersman (eds.), Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1985.

[36]

Parent, C., Rolins, H., Yetongnon, K., and Spaccapietra, S. "An ER Calculus for the Entity-Relationship Complex Model," in Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Entity-Relationship Approach, F.H. Lochovsky (ed.), Toronto, Canada, October 1989, pp. 248-262.

[37]

Reisner, P. "Human Factors Studies of Database Query Languages: A Survey and Assessment," Computing Surveys (13:1), March 1981, pp. 13-31.

Digital Library

[38]

Reisner, P., Boyce, R., and Chamberlain, D. "Human Factors Evaluation of Two Data-base Query Languages: SQUARE and SEQUEL," Proceedings of the National Computer Conference (Vol 44), AFIPS Press, Anaheim, CA, May 1975, pp. 447-452.

Digital Library

[39]

Riccuiti, M. "Idiot-Proof Your SQL Queries," Datamation (38:8), April 1, 1992, pp. 61-62.

[40]

Roesner, W. "DESPATH: An Entity Relationship Manipulation Language," The 4th International Conference on Entity-Relationship Approach, IEEE Computer Society Press, Washington D.C., October 1985.

[41]

Shneiderman, B. Designing the User Interface: Strategies for Effective Human-Computer Interaction, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1987.

Digital Library

[42]

Storey, V.C. and Goldstein, R.C. "A Methodology for Creating User Views in Database Design," ACM TODS (13:3), September 1988.

[43]

Subieta, K. and Missala, M. "Semantics of Query Languages for the Entity Relationship Model," in Entity-Relationship Approach, S. Spaccapietra (ed.), Elsevier Sciences Publishers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1987, pp. 197-216.

[44]

Teorey, T.J. Database Modeling and Design: The Entity-Relationship Approach, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, Inc., San Mateo, CA, 1990.

[45]

Teorey, T.J., Yang, D., and Fry, J.P. "A Logical Design Methodology for Relational Databases Using the Extended Entity-Relationship Model," Computing Surveys (18:2), June 1986, pp. 197-222.

Digital Library

[46]

Thalheim, B. "Extending the Entity-Relationship Model for a High-Level Theory-Based Database Design," in Next Generation Information System Technology, J.W. Schmidt and AA Stogny (eds.), Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany, 1991.

[47]

Thomas, J.C. "Psychological Issues in the Design of Database Query Languages," in Designing For Human-Computer Communication, M.E. Sime and M.J. Coombs (eds.), Academic Press, London, 1983.

[48]

Thomas, J. and Gould, J. "A Psychological Study of Query By Example," National Computer Conference Proceedings (Vol. 44), AFIPS Press, New York, NY, May 1975, pp. 439-445.

Digital Library

[49]

Velez, F. "LAMBDA: An Entity Relationship Based Query Language for the Retrieval of Structured Documents," The 4th International Conference on Entity-Relationship Approach, IEEE Computer Society Press, Washington, D.C., October 1985.

[50]

Vossen, G. Data Models, Database Languages and Database Management Systems, Addison-Wesley, Cornwall, England, 1991.

[51]

Welty, C. "Correcting User Errors in SQL," International Journal of Man-Machine Studies (22:4), April 1985, pp. 463-477.

[52]

Welty C. and Stemple, D.W. "Human Factors Comparison of a Procedural and a Nonprocedural Query Language," ACM Transactions on Database Systems (6:4), December 1981, pp. 626-649.

Digital Library

Cited By

Gatterbauer W(2023)A Tutorial on Visual Representations of Relational QueriesProceedings of the VLDB Endowment10.14778/3611540.361157816:12(3890-3893)Online publication date: 12-Sep-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.14778/3611540.3611578
Taipalus TSeppänen V(2020)SQL EducationACM Transactions on Computing Education10.1145/339837720:3(1-33)Online publication date: 7-Aug-2020
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3398377
Purao SBolloju NTan C(2018)A Modeling Language for Conceptual Design of Systems Integration SolutionsACM Transactions on Management Information Systems10.1145/31850469:2(1-25)Online publication date: 5-Sep-2018
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3185046
Show More Cited By

Index Terms

User-database interface: the effect of abstraction levels on query performance*

Recommendations

The influence of database structure representation on database system learning and use

Successful use of a computerized database by end users requires both an understanding of the structure of the database and knowledge of the available query language. Previous research has focused almost exclusively on query languages with little concern ...
Incorporating NoSQL into a database course

This article introduces the concepts of Big Data and NoSQL and describes a semester long web-based project that uses both a relational database (Oracle 11g) and a NoSQL (MongoDB) database for an undergraduate database course. The relational database ...
The effect of data model, system and task characteristics on user query performance: an empirical study

With the proliferation of end-user computing and empowerment of end users in the organizations, the user-database interface is increasingly being recognized as an important research area. A user-database interface consists of two key components: the ...

Comments

Information & Contributors

Information

Published In

Publisher

Society for Information Management and The Management Information Systems Research Center

United States

Publication History

Published: 01 December 1993

Author Tags

Qualifiers

Article

Contributors

Other Metrics

View Article Metrics

Bibliometrics & Citations

Bibliometrics

Article Metrics

26
Total Citations
View Citations
37
Total Downloads

Downloads (Last 12 months)0
Downloads (Last 6 weeks)0

Reflects downloads up to 03 Oct 2024

Other Metrics

View Author Metrics

Citations

Cited By

Gatterbauer W(2023)A Tutorial on Visual Representations of Relational QueriesProceedings of the VLDB Endowment10.14778/3611540.361157816:12(3890-3893)Online publication date: 12-Sep-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.14778/3611540.3611578
Taipalus TSeppänen V(2020)SQL EducationACM Transactions on Computing Education10.1145/339837720:3(1-33)Online publication date: 7-Aug-2020
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3398377
Purao SBolloju NTan C(2018)A Modeling Language for Conceptual Design of Systems Integration SolutionsACM Transactions on Management Information Systems10.1145/31850469:2(1-25)Online publication date: 5-Sep-2018
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3185046
Junkkari MVainio JIltanen KArvola PKari HKekäläinen J(2016)Path Expressions in SQLJournal of Database Management10.5555/3078282.307828327:3(1-22)Online publication date: 1-Jul-2016
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.5555/3078282.3078283
Chan HTan CTeo H(2014)Data ModelingJournal of Database Management10.4018/JDM.201410010225:4(17-37)Online publication date: 1-Oct-2014
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.4018/JDM.2014100102
Gelbard RMeged A(2012)A Unified Fuzzy Data ModelJournal of Database Management10.4018/jdm.201201010423:1(78-102)Online publication date: 1-Jan-2012
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.4018/jdm.2012010104
Storey VChiang RChua C(2012)Knowledge RepresentationJournal of Database Management10.4018/jdm.201201010123:1(1-30)Online publication date: 1-Jan-2012
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.4018/jdm.2012010101
McCormick DFrakes WAnguswamy RRuneson PHöst MMendes EAndrews AHarrison R(2012)A comparison of database fault detection capabilities using mutation testingProceedings of the ACM-IEEE international symposium on Empirical software engineering and measurement10.1145/2372251.2372310(323-326)Online publication date: 19-Sep-2012
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2372251.2372310
Bolloju NPurao STan C(2012)Conceptual modeling for systems integrationProceedings of the 31st international conference on Conceptual Modeling10.1007/978-3-642-34002-4_25(321-330)Online publication date: 15-Oct-2012
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/978-3-642-34002-4_25
Nah FSiau KCao Q(2011)A Meta-Analysis Comparing Relational and Semantic ModelsJournal of Database Management10.4018/jdm.201110010322:4(57-72)Online publication date: 1-Oct-2011
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.4018/jdm.2011100103
Show More Cited By

View Options

View options

Media

Figures

Other

Tables

View Issue’s Table of Contents