Educational Experiences Detecting, Using, and Representing Ternary Relationships in Database Design

Abstract

Abstract-Conceptual models are applied as the first step in software design methodologies for collecting the semantics involved in the universe of discourse. Nevertheless, the abstraction process creates some misunderstandings for novice designers, such as difficulties in modeling some constructs and in understanding the semantics that they represent. This paper presents a thorough study of errors detected among Database Design students in Computer Science Engineering when they apply the abstraction process to generate a conceptual schema using a specific model. Specifically, the paper focuses on errors made in the design of ternary relationships. Some heuristics are proposed in order to help novice designers avoid these common errors, and an experimental study is presented to compare the number of errors made by the students before and after applying these heuristics.

Guidelines for representing complex cardinality constraints in binary and ternary relationships

“…However, the authors have noted some associated problems [19]. Sometimes, for instance, conceptual models mistake simplicity for a limitation of expressivity.…”

“…This Tutor will apply the practical method presented in this work to facilitate the cardinality constraints definition, as well as its representation in a conceptual schema. As part of this work, another recent study [19] has been carried out. This study presents experimental results to apply the present method to database design students in a Computer Science bachelor's degree program using a web platform.…”

Design Methodology for Relational Databases : Issues Related to Ternary Relationships in Entitiy-Relationship Model and Higher Normal Forms

“…Their work justifies the simultaneous usage of two popular kinds of cardinality constraint classes used in data modeling namely Chen-style constraint and participation constraint. [12] in their work focused on errors made in the design of ternary relationships like cardinality mistakes, representing a ternary relationship by means of binary relationships, lack of one or more attributes in the relationships and existence of redundancies. In conceptual modeling, the abstraction process creates some misunderstandings for novice designers, such as difficulties in modeling some constructs and in understanding the semantics that are present.…”