This paper presents a new perspective on the traditional AI task of problem solving and the techniques of abstraction and refinement. The new perspective is based on the well known, but little exploited, relation between problem solving and the task of finding a path in a graph between two given nodes. The graph oriented view of abstraction suggests two new families of abstraction techniques, a...

A multivariate approach involves varying number of objectives to be satisfied simultaneously in testing process. An evolutionary approach, genetic algorithm is taken for solving multivariate problems in software engineering. The Multivariate Optimization Problem (MOP) has a set of solutions, each of which satisfies the objectives at an acceptable level. Another evolutionary algorithm named SBGA...

A team of constraint agents with diverse viewpoints can find a solution to a constraint satisfaction problem (CSP) when the individual agents have an incomplete view of the problem. In this paper we present a method of solving constraint satisfaction problems (CSPs) using cooperating constraint agents where each agent has a different representation of a particular CSP. Agents assist one another...

Computer-simulated scenarios have been part of psychological research on problem solving for more than 40 years. The shift in emphasis from simple toy problems to complex, more real-life oriented problems has been accompanied by discussions about the best ways to assess the process of solving complex problems. Psychometric issues such as reliable assessments and addressing correlations with oth...

After 20 years since their birth, equation-oriented and object-oriented modelling techniques and tools are now mature, as far as solving simulation problems is concerned. Conversely, there is still much to be done in order to provide more direct support for the design of advanced, modelbased control systems, starting from object-oriented plant models. Following a brief review of the current sta...

Our research examines the strategies employed by users during exploratory learning, and what they learn about how a device works and how to accomplish tasks using the device. Initial empirical and modelling work suggests that users typically conduct device-oriented exploration resulting in the acquisition of specifically device-oriented knowledge, but not directly of taskoriented knowledge. Alt...

One of the problems teaching introductory object-oriented problem solving and programming is designing appropriate and enlightening examples and exercises. The type of examples we use in procedural programming is not necessarily adequate for illustrating similar syntactical concepts in an object-oriented paradigm. Moving to a higher level of abstraction, as with objects examples need to illustr...

This chapter presents a background in cognitive processes such as problem-solving and analogical reasoning for considering modelling from an object-oriented perspective within the domain of requirements engineering. This chapter then describes a research project and the findings from a set of four cases which examine professional practice from perspective of cognitive modelling for object-orien...

The new paradigm of aspect-oriented programming demands new modularization techniques in the early phases of software development, i.e. requirements analysis and architectural design. Especially during the requirements analysis phase, there is a potential for conflicts between the introduced aspect-oriented paradigm and traditionally postulated qualities that must be fulfilled by a requirements...

Journal of Research and Practice in Information Technology, Vol. 46, No. 4, November 2014 Copyright© 2014, Australian Computer Society Inc. General permission to republish, but not for profi t, all or part of this material is granted, provided that the JRPIT copyright notice is given and that reference is made to the publication, to its date of issue, and to the fact that reprinting privileges ...