Entity-relationship diagrams and English: an analysis of some problems encountered in a database design course

ABSTRACT

The simplicity and clarity of the entity-relationship approach recommends its use as a tool for teaching database design. Nonetheless, the approach does not appear to be problem-free. Analysis of student entity-relationship diagrams for two database design projects reveals a tendency students have to model English sentences and to use English syntax to guide the modeling process. The paper discusses why this may be the case, and how it may be avoided.

REFERENCES

• 1: Evans J. Adams, A second course in database management, Proceedings of the seventeenth SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, p.15-23, February 06-07, 1986, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
• 2: P.P. Chen. Database Design Based on Entity and Relationship. PRINCIPLES OF DATABASE DESIGN, VOLUME I: LOGICAL ORGANIZATIONS IYao, S.B. Ed.). Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey (1985).
• 3: Carol Chrisman , Barbara Beccue, Entity relationship models as a tool for data analysis and design, Proceedings of the seventeenth SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, p.8-14, February 06-07, 1986, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
• 4: Antonio L. Furtado , Erich J. Neuhold, Formal techniques for data base design, Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., New York, NY, 1986
• 5: I. T. Hawryszkiewycz, Database analysis and design, SRA School Group, 1986
• 6: D. R. Howe, Data Analysis for Data Base Design, Routledge, Chapman & Hall, New York, NY, 1989
• 7: Schiffner, G., and Scheuermann, P. "Multiple Views and Abstractions with an Extended-Entity Relationship Model" COMPUTER LANGUAGES, 4 (1979), pp. 139-154.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Curriculum

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors