An Experiment in Applying Linguistic Insight to Improve Requirements

We discuss the role of domain knowledge in requirements validity, and review cognitive linguistic theory as applied to domain knowledge communication, We then review the motivation for, and structure of, an artifact, the domain map, designed to reduce the potential for breakdown in domain knowledge propagation by systematically compensating for normal variability in the ways that humans individually apply communicative heuristics. We further describe the design and execution of an experiment constructed to investigate the value of domain maps for improving requirements by increasing the potential for domain knowledge comprehension. Results of the experiment indicate that domain maps can be an effective tool in the propagation of domain knowledge with more fidelity.
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Hanks, Kimberly, and John Knight. "An Experiment in Applying Linguistic Insight to Improve Requirements." University of Virginia Dept. of Computer Science Tech Report (2002).