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The design metrics developed by the Design Metrics team at Ball State University are a suite of metrics that can be applied during the design phase of software development. The benefit of the metrics lies in the fact that the metrics can be applied early in the software development cycle. The suite includes the external design metric De,the internal design metric D27 D(G), the design balance metric DB, and the design connectivity metric DC.The suite of design metrics have been applied to large-scale industrial software as well as student projects. Bell Communications Research of New Jersey has made available a software system that can be used to apply design metrics to large-scale telecommunications software. This thesis presents the suite of design metrics and attempts to determine if the characteristics of telecommunications software are accurately reflected in the conventions used to compute the metrics. / Department of Computer Science

The thesis explores the possible use of parametric object definitions during capacity analysis to support Open Building design processes.The study proposes that design criteria regarding possible size, position and relation of design elements can be formulated and modeled parametrically. Then developed parametric data can be used as library objects during the exploration of dwelling unit layout alternatives. Parametric models, holding explicit design information can be shared, modified and re-used in different design cases. The process and criteria used in the study are based on S.A.R. (Stichting Architecten Research) methods described in the study, "Variations - The Systematic Design of Supports" focused particularly on residential building types. Parallel to the S.A.R methods, the study focuses on the spatial capacity analysis between a floor plate and a number of alternative dwelling unit layout arrangements. Other capacity analyses such as structural, daylight or thermal performances can be formulated and studied in a similar way, but are not included in this study.GDL (Geometric Description Language), a programming medium for ArchiCAD software, is used for the production of parametric models. The Keyenburg housing project designed by Dutch architect Frans Van Der Werf is taken as a base-building model to demonstrate the development and the use of parametric models.Keywords: Open Building, capacity analysis, parametric objects, design constraints, GDL (Geometric Description Language) / Department of Architecture

At Ball State University Dr. Wayne Zage and Professor Dolores Zage are working on a Design metrics project to develop a metrics approach for analyzing software design.The purpose of this thesis is to test the hypotheses of this metric by calculating the De external design component, and to show the correlation of errors and stress points in the design phase for a large Ada Software, professionally developed at Computer Sciences Corporation.From these studies we can relatively conclude that De does indicate the error-prone module. Since the D(G) is comprised of an internal and external component it is necessary to evaluate Di to support this hypothesis on a large project. Just by viewing the external complexity, the metric does a relatively good job of pointing out high error modules, with only viewing 10% of the modules we found 33% of the errors.Comparing the results of STANFINS-R and the results of the BSU projects, the BSU projects did better in finding the errors 33% verus 53%. However in the STANFINS project, we had a better success rate of finding the error modules. Of the modules highlighted 72% did contain errors. Thus if we loosened the criteria for selection of error prone modules we might have had a large percentage of the errors captured. / Department of Computer Science

The inability to accurately estimate costs which are associated with software development is an increasing concern of the scientists and practitioners involved. Many factors influence the cost and many models have been offered to estimate the expenses for developing a software system of any size and type. Unfortunately, the problem remains the same. There is a significant need for further research in order to develop complete understanding in this area.This thesis examines the cost influential factors and reviews a number of existing cost estimation models. Then, a hypothetical method is shown for estimating cost, incorporating the PERT sizing technique, the Basic and Intermediate COCOMO models, and a blend of features from the Putnam's Resource Allocation model and the SLIM model. The implementation of this method is also included. / Department of Computer Science

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate critical thinking development in an introductory computer programming course in which problem-solving was a key component of the course, compared with another college level computing course in which problem-solving is not a key component. There were two hypotheses in this study. The first was that students would show a greater increase in critical thinking skills after they participate in CINS 113 than CINS 101. The second hypothesis was that students’ critical thinking skills at the beginning of CINS 113 would predict the final grade in the course. Prior to conducting the study, approval was received from both institutions’ review boards and all guidelines were followed. A control group was recruited from students enrolled in a course that was determined to not have problem-solving as a key component of the course and an experimental group was recruited from students enrolled in an introductory computer programming course. Both courses were from a Midwestern community college. Program chairs from various regions throughout the state volunteered their faculty and students to participate in the study. Students were administered the Cornell Critical Thinking Test on the first day of the semester and again at the end of the semester. At the end of the semester, faculty submitted final semester grades for all students participating in the program. A comparison of the pretest was made against the posttest using a repeating ANOVA test to see if there was a significant change between the two scores and if there was a difference in the change in scores between the two groups. In addition, the pretest was analyzed against the final grade for the course to determine if a relationship existed between the critical thinking score at the beginning of the course and the student’s success in the course. A correlational analysis, as well as regression analysis, was conducted. There were a total of 213 students who completed the study. The results of the study supported both hypotheses. / Department of Educational Studies

Typescript. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1986. / Bibliography: leaves 243-252. / Photocopy. / Microfilm. / xiv, 252 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographic references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-71).