{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,19]],"date-time":"2026-02-19T03:20:36Z","timestamp":1771471236423,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":56,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2016,5,20]],"date-time":"2016-05-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1463702400000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/www.springer.com\/tdm"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Softw Syst Model"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2018,2]]},"DOI":"10.1007\/s10270-016-0529-x","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2016,5,21]],"date-time":"2016-05-21T21:03:27Z","timestamp":1463864607000},"page":"115-134","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":10,"title":["On the impact of size to the understanding of UML diagrams"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Harald","family":"St\u00f6rrle","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2016,5,20]]},"reference":[{"issue":"3","key":"529_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"327","DOI":"10.1109\/TSE.2012.27","volume":"39","author":"S Abrah\u00e3o","year":"2013","unstructured":"Abrah\u00e3o, S., Gravino, C., Insfr\u00e1n, E., Scanniello, G., Tortora, G.: Assessing the effectiveness of sequence diagrams in the comprehension of functional requirements: results from a family of five experiments. IEEE Trans. Softw. Eng. 39(3), 327\u2013342 (2013)","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Softw. Eng."},{"key":"529_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Britton, C., Kutar, M., Anthony, S., Barker, T., Beecham, S., Wilkinson, V.: An empirical study of user preference and performance with UML diagrams. In: Proceedings of IEEE 2002 Symposium Human Centric Computing Languages and Environments (HCC\/LE), pp. 31\u201333. IEEE (2002)","DOI":"10.1109\/HCC.2002.1046338"},{"key":"529_CR3","unstructured":"Dawoodi, S.Y.: Assessing the comprehension of UML class diagrams via eye tracking. Master\u2019s thesis, Kent State University (2007)"},{"issue":"6","key":"529_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"961","DOI":"10.1109\/TVCG.2009.109","volume":"15","author":"T Dwyer","year":"2009","unstructured":"Dwyer, T., Lee, B., Fisher, D., Quinn, K.I., Isenberg, P., Robertson, G., North, C.: A comparison of user-generated and automatic graph layouts. IEEE Trans Vis Comput Graph 15(6), 961\u2013968 (2009)","journal-title":"IEEE Trans Vis Comput Graph"},{"key":"529_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Effinger, P., Jogsch, N., Seiz, S.: On a study of layout aesthetics for business process models using BPMN. In: Proceedings of 2nd International Workshop Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN), pp. 31\u201345. Springer (2010)","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-642-16298-5_5"},{"key":"529_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Eichelberger, H.: Aesthetics of class diagrams. In: Proceedings of 1st International Workshop Visualizing Software for Understanding and Analysis (VISSOFT), pp. 23\u201331. IEEE (2002)","DOI":"10.1109\/VISSOF.2002.1019791"},{"key":"529_CR7","unstructured":"Eichelberger, H.: Aesthetics and automatic layout of UML class diagrams. Ph.D. thesis, University of W\u00fcrzburg (2005)"},{"key":"529_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Eichelberger, H.: Automatic layout of UML use case diagrams. In: Proceedings of 4th ACM Symposium on Software Visualization (SOFTVIS), pp. 105\u2013114. ACM (2008)","DOI":"10.1145\/1409720.1409738"},{"issue":"12","key":"529_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1686","DOI":"10.1016\/j.infsof.2009.04.008","volume":"51","author":"H Eichelberger","year":"2009","unstructured":"Eichelberger, H., Schmid, K.: Guidelines on the aesthetic quality of UML class diagrams. Inf. Softw. Technol. 51(12), 1686\u20131698 (2009)","journal-title":"Inf. Softw. Technol."},{"key":"529_CR10","unstructured":"Eiglsperger, M.: Automatic layout of UML class diagrams: a topology-shape-metrics approach. Ph.D. thesis, Univ. T\u00fcbingen (2003)"},{"key":"529_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fish, A., St\u00f6rrle, H.: Visual qualities of the unified modeling language: deficiencies and improvements. In: Cox, P., Hosking, J. (eds.) Proceedings of IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing (VL\/HCC), pp. 41\u201349. IEEE Computer Society (2007)","DOI":"10.1109\/VLHCC.2007.34"},{"issue":"5","key":"529_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"519","DOI":"10.1177\/001872088402600504","volume":"26","author":"D Gopher","year":"1984","unstructured":"Gopher, D., Braune, R.: On the psychophysics of workload: why bother with subjective measures? Hum. Factors 26(5), 519\u2013532 (1984)","journal-title":"Hum. Factors"},{"key":"529_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"131","DOI":"10.1006\/jvlc.1996.0009","volume":"7","author":"TRG Green","year":"1996","unstructured":"Green, T.R.G., Petre, M.: Usability analysis of visual programming environments: a \u2018cognitive dimensions\u2019 framework. J. Vis. Lang. Comput. 7, 131\u2013174 (1996)","journal-title":"J. Vis. Lang. Comput."},{"key":"529_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"317","DOI":"10.1006\/jvlc.1999.0130","volume":"10","author":"CA Gurr","year":"1999","unstructured":"Gurr, C.A.: Effective diagrammatic communication: syntactic, semantic and pragmatic issues. J. Vis. Lang. Comput. 10, 317\u2013342 (1999)","journal-title":"J. Vis. Lang. Comput."},{"key":"529_CR15","unstructured":"Karasneh, B., Chaudron, M.: Online Img2UML repository: an online repository for UML models. In: International Worshop Experiences and Empirical Studies in Software Modelling (EESSMod) (2013). Co-located MoDELS\u201913. http:\/\/cse-poros.cse.chalmers.se"},{"key":"529_CR16","volume-title":"Principles of Gestalt Psychology","author":"K Koffka","year":"1935","unstructured":"Koffka, K.: Principles of Gestalt Psychology. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London (1935)"},{"key":"529_CR17","volume-title":"Die physischen Gestalten in Ruhe und im station\u00e4ren Zustand","author":"W K\u00f6hler","year":"1924","unstructured":"K\u00f6hler, W.: Die physischen Gestalten in Ruhe und im station\u00e4ren Zustand. Verlage der philosophischen Akademie, Erlangen (1924)"},{"key":"529_CR18","unstructured":"Maier, A.M., Baltsen, N., Christoffersen, H., St\u00f6rrle, H.: Towards diagram understanding: a pilot-study measuring cognitive workload through eye-tracking. In: Proceedings of International Conference on Human Behavior in Design (2014)"},{"key":"529_CR19","volume-title":"Visual Language Theory","year":"1998","unstructured":"Marriott, K., Meyer, B. (eds.): Visual Language Theory. Springer, New York (1998)"},{"key":"529_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"48","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-540-75183-0_4","volume-title":"Proceedings of International Conference on Business Process Management","author":"J Mendling","year":"2007","unstructured":"Mendling, J., Reijers, H.A., Cardoso, J.: What makes process models understandable? In: Alonso, G., et al. (eds.) Proceedings of International Conference on Business Process Management, pp. 48\u201363. Springer, New York (2007)"},{"key":"529_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"81","DOI":"10.1037\/h0043158","volume":"63","author":"GA Miller","year":"1956","unstructured":"Miller, G.A.: The magical number seven, plus or minus two: some limits on our capacity for processing information. Psychol. Rev. 63, 81\u201397 (1956)","journal-title":"Psychol. Rev."},{"issue":"6","key":"529_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"756","DOI":"10.1109\/TSE.2009.67","volume":"35","author":"DL Moody","year":"2009","unstructured":"Moody, D.L.: The \u201cphysics\u201d of notations: toward a scientific basis for constructing visual notations in software engineering. IEEE Trans. Softw. Eng. 35(6), 756\u2013779 (2009)","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Softw. Eng."},{"issue":"2","key":"529_CR23","first-page":"163","volume":"8","author":"J Oberlander","year":"1996","unstructured":"Oberlander, J.: Grice for graphics: pragmatic implicature in network diagrams. Inf. Des. J. 8(2), 163\u2013179 (1996)","journal-title":"Inf. Des. J."},{"key":"529_CR24","unstructured":"OMG: OMG Unified Modeling Language (OMG UML). Version 2.5. Technical Report, Object Management Group (2013). ptc\/2013-09-05"},{"issue":"1","key":"529_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"63","DOI":"10.1207\/S15326985EP3801_8","volume":"38","author":"F Paas","year":"2003","unstructured":"Paas, F., Tuovinen, J.E., Tabbers, H., Van Gerven, P.W.: Cognitive load measurement as a means to advance cognitive load theory. Educ. Psychol. 38(1), 63\u201371 (2003)","journal-title":"Educ. Psychol."},{"key":"529_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1145\/203241.203251","volume":"38","author":"M Petre","year":"1995","unstructured":"Petre, M.: Why looking isn\u2019t always seeing: readership skills and graphical programming. Commun. ACM 38, 33\u201344 (1995)","journal-title":"Commun. ACM"},{"issue":"1","key":"529_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"219","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02249052","volume":"1","author":"SL Pfleeger","year":"1995","unstructured":"Pfleeger, S.L.: Experimental design and analysis in software engineering. Ann. Softw. Eng. 1(1), 219\u2013253 (1995)","journal-title":"Ann. Softw. Eng."},{"key":"529_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1017\/CBO9780511844744","volume-title":"Cognitive Load Theory","author":"JL Plass","year":"2010","unstructured":"Plass, J.L., Moreno, R., Br\u00fcnken, R.: Cognitive Load Theory. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2010)"},{"key":"529_CR29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"149","DOI":"10.1007\/978-1-4615-0457-3_6","volume-title":"Software-Visualization: From Theory to Practice","author":"H Purchase","year":"2003","unstructured":"Purchase, H., Colpoys, L., Carrington, D., McGill, M.: UML class diagrams: an empirical study of comprehension. In: Zhang, K. (ed.) Software-Visualization: From Theory to Practice, pp. 149\u2013178. Kluwer, Boston (2003)"},{"issue":"5","key":"529_CR30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"501","DOI":"10.1006\/jvlc.2002.0232","volume":"13","author":"HC Purchase","year":"2002","unstructured":"Purchase, H.C.: Metrics for graph drawing aesthtetics. J. Vis. Lang. Comput. 13(5), 501\u2013516 (2002)","journal-title":"J. Vis. Lang. Comput."},{"issue":"3","key":"529_CR31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"255","DOI":"10.7155\/jgaa.00054","volume":"6","author":"HC Purchase","year":"2002","unstructured":"Purchase, H.C., Allder, J.A., Carrington, D.A.: Graph layout aesthetics in UML diagrams: user preferences. J. Graph Algorithms Appl. 6(3), 255\u2013279 (2002)","journal-title":"J. Graph Algorithms Appl."},{"issue":"3","key":"529_CR32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.1023\/A:1016344215610","volume":"7","author":"HC Purchase","year":"2002","unstructured":"Purchase, H.C., Carrington, D., Allder, J.A.: Empirical evaluation of aesthetics-based graph layout. J. Empir. Softw. Eng. 7(3), 233\u2013255 (2002)","journal-title":"J. Empir. Softw. Eng."},{"key":"529_CR33","first-page":"489","volume-title":"Proceedings of International Conference on Theory and Application of Diagrams (Diagrams), no. 1889 in LNAI","author":"HC Purchase","year":"2000","unstructured":"Purchase, H.C., Carrington, D.A., Allder, J.A.: Experimenting with aesthetics-based graph layout. In: Anderson, M., Cheng, P., Haarslev, V. (eds.) Proceedings of International Conference on Theory and Application of Diagrams (Diagrams), no. 1889 in LNAI, pp. 489\u2013501. Springer, Heidelberg (2000)"},{"key":"529_CR34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Purchase, H.C., Colpoys, L., McGill, M., Carrington, D.: UML collaboration diagram syntax: an empirical study of comprehension. In: Proceedings of 1st International Workshop on Visualizing Software for Understanding and Analysis (VISSOFT), pp. 13\u201322. IEEE CS (2002)","DOI":"10.1109\/VISSOF.2002.1019790"},{"key":"529_CR35","unstructured":"Recker, J., Dreiling, A.: Does it matter which process modelling language we teach or use? An experimental study on understanding process modelling languages without formal education. In: Toleman, M., Cater-Steel, A., Roberts, D. (eds.) Proceedings of 18th Australasian Conference on Information Systems. University of Southern Queensland (2007). http:\/\/eprints.qut.edu.au\/12270"},{"issue":"1","key":"529_CR36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"96","DOI":"10.1109\/TSE.2009.69","volume":"36","author":"F Ricca","year":"2010","unstructured":"Ricca, F., Di Penta, M., Torchiano, M., Tonella, P., Ceccato, M.: How developers\u2019 experience and ability influence web application comprehension tasks supported by uml stereotypes: a series of four experiments. IEEE Trans. Softw. Eng. 36(1), 96\u2013118 (2010)","journal-title":"IEEE Trans. Softw. Eng."},{"key":"529_CR37","first-page":"411","volume-title":"International Conference on Graph Transformation (ICGT\u201908), no. 5214 in LNCS","author":"A Sch\u00fcrr","year":"2008","unstructured":"Sch\u00fcrr, A., Klar, F.: 15 years of triple graph grammars. Research challenges, new contributions, open problems. In: Ehrig, H., et al. (eds.) International Conference on Graph Transformation (ICGT\u201908), no. 5214 in LNCS, pp. 411\u2013425. Springer, Heidelberg (2008)"},{"key":"529_CR38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Seemann, J.: Extending the Sugiyama algorithm for drawing UML class diagrams: towards automatic layout of object-oriented software diagrams. In: Proceedings of International Conference on Graph Drawing (GD), pp. 415\u2013424. Springer (1997)","DOI":"10.1007\/3-540-63938-1_86"},{"key":"529_CR39","unstructured":"Selic, B., Kent, S., Evans, A. (eds.): Proceedings of 3rd International Conference on Unified Modeling Language (UML\u201900), no. 1939 in LNCS. Springer (2000)"},{"key":"529_CR40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sharif, B.: Empirical assessment of UML class diagram layouts based on architectural importance. In: Proceedings of International Conference on Software Maintenance (ICSM), pp. 544\u2013549. IEEE (2011)","DOI":"10.1109\/ICSM.2011.6080828"},{"key":"529_CR41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sharif, B., Maletic, J.I.: An empirical study on the comprehension of stereotyped UML class diagram layouts. In: Proceedings of 17th IEEE International Conference on Program Comprehension (ICPC), pp. 268\u2013272. IEEE (2009)","DOI":"10.1109\/ICPC.2009.5090055"},{"key":"529_CR42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sharif, B., Maletic, J.I.: The effect of layout on the comprehension of UML class diagrams: a controlled experiment. In: Proceedings of 5th International Workshop on Visualizing Software for Understanding & Analysis (VISSOFT), pp. 11\u201318. IEEE (2009)","DOI":"10.1109\/VISSOF.2009.5336430"},{"key":"529_CR43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sharif, B., Maletic, J.I.: An eye tracking study on the effects of layout in understanding the role of design patterns. In: Proceedings of 2010 IEEE International Conference on Software Maintenance (ICSM), pp. 41\u201348. IEEE (2010)","DOI":"10.1109\/ICSM.2010.5609582"},{"key":"529_CR44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sharif, B., Maletic, J.I.: The Effects of Layout on Detecting the Role of Design Patterns. In: Proceedings of 23rd IEEE Conference on Software Engineering Education and Training (CSEE&T), pp. 41\u201348. IEEE (2010)","DOI":"10.1109\/CSEET.2010.23"},{"key":"529_CR45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Siegmund, J., K\u00e4stner, C., Apel, S., Parnin, C., Bethmann, A., Leich, T., Saake, G., Brechmann, A.: Understanding understanding source code with functional magnetic resonance imaging. In: Proceedings of ACM\/IEEE International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE), pp. 378\u2013389. ACM Press (2014)","DOI":"10.1145\/2568225.2568252"},{"key":"529_CR46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Soh, Z., Sharafi, Z., Van\u00a0den Plas, B., Porras, G.C., Gu\u00e9h\u00e9neuc, Y.G., Antoniol, G.: Professional status and expertise for UML class diagram comprehension: an empirical study. In: Proceedings of International Conference on Program Comprehension (ICPC), pp. 163\u2013172. IEEE (2012)","DOI":"10.1109\/ICPC.2012.6240484"},{"key":"529_CR47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"St\u00f6rrle, H.: On the Impact of Layout Quality to Understanding UML Diagrams. In: Proceedings of IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing (VL\/HCC), pp. 135\u2013142. IEEE Computer Society (2011)","DOI":"10.1109\/VLHCC.2011.6070390"},{"key":"529_CR48","unstructured":"St\u00f6rrle, H.: On the impact of layout quality to understanding UML diagrams: diagram type and expertise. In: Costagliola, G., et al. (eds.) Proceedings of IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing (VL\/HCC), pp. 195\u2013202. IEEE Computer Society, (2012)"},{"key":"529_CR49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"St\u00f6rrle, H.: On the impact of layout quality to understanding UML diagrams: size matters. In: Dingel, J., et al. (eds.) Proceedings of 17th International Conference on Model Driven Engineering Languages and Systems (MoDELS), no. 8767 in LNCS, pp. 518\u2013534. Springer (2014)","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-11653-2_32"},{"key":"529_CR50","unstructured":"St\u00f6rrle, H., Baltsen, N., Christoffersen, H., Maier, A.M.: On the impact of diagram layout: how are models actually read? In: Sauer, S., others (eds.) Joint Proceedings of MODELS 2014 Poster Session and the ACM Student Research Competition, vol. 1258, pp. 31\u201335. CEUR (2014)"},{"key":"529_CR51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"St\u00f6rrle, H., Fish, A.: Towards an operationalization of the \u201cphysics of notations\u201d for the analysis of visual languages. In: Moreira, A., Sch\u00e4tz, B., Gray, J., Vallecillo, A., Clarke, P. (eds.) 16th International Conference on Model Driven Engineering Languages and Systems (MoDELS\u201913), no. 8107 in LNCS, pp. 104\u2013120. Springer (2013)","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-642-41533-3_7"},{"key":"529_CR52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Swan, J., Kutar, M., Barker, T., Britton, C.: User preference and performance with UML interaction diagrams. In: Proceedings of 2004 IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing (VL\/HCC), pp. 243\u2013250. IEEE (2004)","DOI":"10.1109\/VLHCC.2004.61"},{"issue":"1","key":"529_CR53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"43","DOI":"10.1037\/0735-7036.106.1.43","volume":"106","author":"M Tomonaga","year":"1992","unstructured":"Tomonaga, M., Matsuzawa, T.: Perception of complex geometric figures in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and humans (Homo sapiens): analyses of visual similarity on the basis of choice reaction time. J. Comp. Psychol. 106(1), 43\u201352 (1992)","journal-title":"J. Comp. Psychol."},{"issue":"3","key":"529_CR54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.1007\/s11219-006-9218-2","volume":"14","author":"K Wong","year":"2006","unstructured":"Wong, K., Sun, D.: On evaluating the layout of UML diagrams for program comprehension. Softw. Qual. J. 14(3), 233\u2013259 (2006)","journal-title":"Softw. Qual. J."},{"key":"529_CR55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yusuf, S., Kagdi, H., Maletic, J.I.: Assessing the comprehension of UML class diagrams via eye tracking. In: 15th International Conference on Program Comprehension (ICPC\u201907), pp. 113\u2013122. IEEE CS (2007)","DOI":"10.1109\/ICPC.2007.10"},{"key":"529_CR56","unstructured":"Zimbardo, P.G.: Psychology, 18th International edition Pearson Education (2007)"}],"container-title":["Software &amp; Systems Modeling"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s10270-016-0529-x\/fulltext.html","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"http:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s10270-016-0529-x.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"http:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s10270-016-0529-x","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"},{"URL":"http:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/s10270-016-0529-x.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2019,9,8]],"date-time":"2019-09-08T05:42:03Z","timestamp":1567921323000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1007\/s10270-016-0529-x"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2016,5,20]]},"references-count":56,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2018,2]]}},"alternative-id":["529"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s10270-016-0529-x","relation":{},"ISSN":["1619-1366","1619-1374"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1619-1366","type":"print"},{"value":"1619-1374","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2016,5,20]]}}}