IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/inm/orisre/v20y2009i4p565-584.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

An Empirical Investigation of End-User Query Development: The Effects of Improved Model Expressiveness vs. Complexity

Author

Listed:
  • Paul L. Bowen

    (College of Business, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306)

  • Robert A. O'Farrell

    (School of Business, The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD 4072, Australia)

  • Fiona H. Rohde

    (School of Business, The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD 4072, Australia)

Abstract

Data models provide a map of the components of an information system. Prior research has indicated that more expressive conceptual data models (despite their increased size) result in better performance for problem solving tasks. An initial experiment using logical data models indicated that more expressive logical data models also enhanced end-user performance for information retrieval tasks. However, the principles of parsimony and bounded rationality imply that, past some point, increases in size lead to a level of complexity that results in impaired performance. The results of this study support these principles. For a logical data model of increased but still modest size, users composing queries for the more expressive logical data model did not perform as well as users composing queries for the corresponding less expressive but more parsimonious logical data model. These results indicate that, when constructing logical data models, data modelers should consider tradeoffs between parsimony and expressiveness.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul L. Bowen & Robert A. O'Farrell & Fiona H. Rohde, 2009. "An Empirical Investigation of End-User Query Development: The Effects of Improved Model Expressiveness vs. Complexity," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(4), pages 565-584, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:20:y:2009:i:4:p:565-584
    DOI: 10.1287/isre.1080.0181
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/isre.1080.0181
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1287/isre.1080.0181?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. François Bodart & Arvind Patel & Marc Sim & Ron Weber, 2001. "Should Optional Properties Be Used in Conceptual Modelling? A Theory and Three Empirical Tests," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 12(4), pages 384-405, December.
    2. Hilton, Rw, 1980. "Integrating Normative And Descriptive Theories Of Information-Processing," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(2), pages 477-505.
    3. Hilton, Rw, 1979. "Determinants Of Cost Information Value - Illustrative Analysis," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 17(2), pages 411-435.
    4. Kil Soo Suh & A. Milton Jenkins, 1992. "A Comparison of Linear Keyword and Restricted Natural Language Data Base Interfaces for Novice Users," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 3(3), pages 252-272, September.
    5. Wood, Robert E., 1986. "Task complexity: Definition of the construct," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 60-82, February.
    6. Hansen M. H & Yu B., 2001. "Model Selection and the Principle of Minimum Description Length," Journal of the American Statistical Association, American Statistical Association, vol. 96, pages 746-774, June.
    7. Sandeep Purao & Veda C. Storey & Taedong Han, 2003. "Improving Analysis Pattern Reuse in Conceptual Design: Augmenting Automated Processes with Supervised Learning," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 14(3), pages 269-290, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jan Mendling & Jan Recker & Hajo A. Reijers & Henrik Leopold, 2019. "An Empirical Review of the Connection Between Model Viewer Characteristics and the Comprehension of Conceptual Process Models," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 21(5), pages 1111-1135, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Matthijs J. Verhulst & Anne-Françoise Rutkowski, 2018. "Decision-Making in the Police Work Force: Affordances Explained in Practice," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 27(5), pages 827-852, October.
    2. Shahla Ghobadi & John Campbell & Stewart Clegg, 2017. "Pair programming teams and high-quality knowledge sharing: A comparative study of coopetitive reward structures," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 19(2), pages 397-409, April.
    3. Weiling Ke & Lele Kang & Chuan-Hoo Tan & Chih-Hung Peng, 2021. "User Competence with Enterprise Systems: The Effects of Work Environment Factors," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 32(3), pages 860-875, September.
    4. Odette M. Pinto, 2015. "Effects of Advice on Effectiveness and Efficiency of Tax Planning Tasks," Accounting Perspectives, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(4), pages 307-329, December.
    5. Seongkyoon Jeong & Jae Young Choi, 2012. "The taxonomy of research collaboration in science and technology: evidence from mechanical research through probabilistic clustering analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 91(3), pages 719-735, June.
    6. Stocks, Morris H. & Harrell, Adrian, 1995. "The impact of an increase in accounting information level on the judgment quality of individuals and groups," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 20(7-8), pages 685-700.
    7. Ge, Xiangyu & Zhou, Qianxiang & Liu, Zhongqi, 2020. "Assessment of space station on-orbit maintenance task complexity," Reliability Engineering and System Safety, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    8. Ben Roelens & Geert Poels, 2015. "The Development and Experimental Evaluation of a Focused Business Model Representation," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 57(1), pages 61-71, February.
    9. Poskitt, D.S. & Sengarapillai, Arivalzahan, 2013. "Description length and dimensionality reduction in functional data analysis," Computational Statistics & Data Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 98-113.
    10. Gist, Marilyn E. & Stevens, Cynthia Kay, 1998. "Effects of Practice Conditions and Supplemental Training Method on Cognitive Learning and Interpersonal Skill Generalization," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 75(2), pages 142-169, August.
    11. Gove Allen & Jeffrey Parsons, 2010. "Is Query Reuse Potentially Harmful? Anchoring and Adjustment in Adapting Existing Database Queries," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 21(1), pages 56-77, March.
    12. Rissanen, Jorma & Roos, Teemu & Myllymäki, Petri, 2010. "Model selection by sequentially normalized least squares," Journal of Multivariate Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 101(4), pages 839-849, April.
    13. Hong Jiang & Wentao Liu & Lili Jia, 2019. "How Humble Leadership Influences the Innovation of Technology Standards: A Moderated Mediation Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-20, October.
    14. Mark F. J. Steel, 2020. "Model Averaging and Its Use in Economics," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 58(3), pages 644-719, September.
    15. Fengchun Tang, 2020. "The more interactivity the better? Investigating interactivity, task complexity, and product knowledge in online purchase decisions," Information Technology and Management, Springer, vol. 21(3), pages 179-189, September.
    16. A. Maes & G. Poels, 2006. "Development of a user evaluations based quality model for conceptual modeling," Working Papers of Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Belgium 06/406, Ghent University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    17. Dilla, William N. & Raschke, Robyn L., 2015. "Data visualization for fraud detection: Practice implications and a call for future research," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 16(C), pages 1-22.
    18. Mohammed, Susan & Harrison, David A., 2013. "The clocks that time us are not the same: A theory of temporal diversity, task characteristics, and performance in teams," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 122(2), pages 244-256.
    19. John S. Osmundson & Russell Gottfried & Chee Yang Kum & Lau Hui Boon & Lim Wei Lian & Poh Seng Wee Patrick & Tan Choo Thye, 2004. "Process modeling: A systems engineering tool for analyzing complex systems," Systems Engineering, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 7(4), pages 320-337.
    20. Chong, Vincent K., 1996. "Management accounting systems, task uncertainty and managerial performance: A research note," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 21(5), pages 415-421, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:20:y:2009:i:4:p:565-584. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Asher (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/inforea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.