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CHAPTER 8
CONCLUSION
In this final chapter, we conclude on our results. We first make a discussion,
included an evaluation of our error sources, and what could be done by other
researchers in the future. Lastly, we compare our results to our initial hypothesis, and make our closing remarks.
8.1
Discussion
In this section we will take a closer look at the outcome of our user test, and
we will discuss how our findings could be used in other research into auditory
and visual debugging. Initially, we will discuss the previously mentioned error sources, we thought could influence the test. Afterwards, we will discuss
two major problem areas we noticed during our tests, immediacy and user
understanding. While not having a direct connection to the concept of neither auditory nor visual debugging, they still gave us a larger insight in the
usability of debugging tools, and some of the obstacles one must circumvent
for a tool to be effective. Later, we will also review the more direct impact on
efficiency we found with the two types of debugging tools.
8.1.1
Error Sources
In section 6.3 on page 41, we identified some attributes concerning the test
setup, we found to be potentially problematic. In the following sections we review some of them, and what could be done to rectify them in further testing.
Artificial Situation
It was clear that some test participants were affected by the artificial situation, we put them under during the test. In particular, one test participant
(12A) identified, by line number, the issue, within two minutes of the debugging session, without using AVD.
Afterwards, he proceeded to apply the tool, and became rather confused as to
where the bug was located. In the end, he managed to confirm his suspicions
by using AVD slightly, but the forced appliance of the tool was a hindrance in
this case.
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