To Abstract or Not to Abstract? A Comparative Study Evaluating the User Experience of Spreadsheet Programming with Sheet-Defined Functional Abstractions.
Saved in:
| Title: | To Abstract or Not to Abstract? A Comparative Study Evaluating the User Experience of Spreadsheet Programming with Sheet-Defined Functional Abstractions. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Kudebayeva, Anel1 (AUTHOR) anel.kudebayeva@qmul.ac.uk, Harte, Christopher1 (AUTHOR), Bryan-Kinns, Nick2 (AUTHOR), Stockman, Tony1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction. May2025, Vol. 41 Issue 9, p5445-5461. 17p. |
| Subjects: | Functional programming (Computer science), User experience, Web-based user interfaces, Task performance, Video recording |
| Abstract: | Spreadsheets are a widespread functional programming paradigm that offer liveness and directness of interaction. However, spreadsheets are notoriously error-prone and difficult to debug. To overcome this limitation and improve the expressive power of spreadsheets, we propose an extension to the spreadsheet paradigm in the form of sheet-defined lambdas – user-defined functions that abstract computations on the sheet. This concept was developed and deployed in our web-based spreadsheet application named Lattice. We evaluate this approach through a user study which compared the user experience of programming in a spreadsheet with and without lambdas, as well as the difference in performance between learner (N = 12) and experienced (N = 12) programmers. The study measured participant task performance (task time, success rate and number of errors) and the quality of their user experience of using Lattice (video recordings of use, interviews and questionnaire responses). Our findings indicate that programming with lambdas is not only more efficient than writing formulas in a conventional way, but also provides a rewarding hedonic experience. However, we found that learners perceived the concept of functional abstractions with lambdas as difficult to comprehend; while experienced programmers noted potential utilitarian advantages that aid in managing the complexity of a spreadsheet program. The results obtained in this work contribute to a better understanding of human-spreadsheet interaction and can inform the future design of user-friendly computational systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 1 |
|---|---|
| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 184789253 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
| IllustrationInfo | |
| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: To Abstract or Not to Abstract? A Comparative Study Evaluating the User Experience of Spreadsheet Programming with Sheet-Defined Functional Abstractions. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kudebayeva%2C+Anel%22">Kudebayeva, Anel</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> anel.kudebayeva@qmul.ac.uk</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Harte%2C+Christopher%22">Harte, Christopher</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bryan-Kinns%2C+Nick%22">Bryan-Kinns, Nick</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Stockman%2C+Tony%22">Stockman, Tony</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22International+Journal+of+Human-Computer+Interaction%22">International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction</searchLink>. May2025, Vol. 41 Issue 9, p5445-5461. 17p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Functional+programming+%28Computer+science%29%22">Functional programming (Computer science)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22User+experience%22">User experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Web-based+user+interfaces%22">Web-based user interfaces</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Task+performance%22">Task performance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Video+recording%22">Video recording</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Spreadsheets are a widespread functional programming paradigm that offer liveness and directness of interaction. However, spreadsheets are notoriously error-prone and difficult to debug. To overcome this limitation and improve the expressive power of spreadsheets, we propose an extension to the spreadsheet paradigm in the form of sheet-defined lambdas – user-defined functions that abstract computations on the sheet. This concept was developed and deployed in our web-based spreadsheet application named Lattice. We evaluate this approach through a user study which compared the user experience of programming in a spreadsheet with and without lambdas, as well as the difference in performance between learner (N = 12) and experienced (N = 12) programmers. The study measured participant task performance (task time, success rate and number of errors) and the quality of their user experience of using Lattice (video recordings of use, interviews and questionnaire responses). Our findings indicate that programming with lambdas is not only more efficient than writing formulas in a conventional way, but also provides a rewarding hedonic experience. However, we found that learners perceived the concept of functional abstractions with lambdas as difficult to comprehend; while experienced programmers noted potential utilitarian advantages that aid in managing the complexity of a spreadsheet program. The results obtained in this work contribute to a better understanding of human-spreadsheet interaction and can inform the future design of user-friendly computational systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=184789253 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1080/10447318.2024.2361209 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 17 StartPage: 5445 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Functional programming (Computer science) Type: general – SubjectFull: User experience Type: general – SubjectFull: Web-based user interfaces Type: general – SubjectFull: Task performance Type: general – SubjectFull: Video recording Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: To Abstract or Not to Abstract? A Comparative Study Evaluating the User Experience of Spreadsheet Programming with Sheet-Defined Functional Abstractions. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Kudebayeva, Anel – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Harte, Christopher – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Bryan-Kinns, Nick – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Stockman, Tony IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 05 Text: May2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 10447318 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 41 – Type: issue Value: 9 Titles: – TitleFull: International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
