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Browsing by Author "Urbano, Paulo"

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  • Advantages of using rules in online SURVEYS
    Publication . Urbano, Paulo
    In this paper we present De.:SID, a rule-based Intelligent Online Survey program. We have incorporated three rule knowledge bases in a standard online survey architecture that are used to control three vital components on a survey: (1) the dependencies between questions, i.e. the structure and survey branching logic, (2) the decision regarding the selection of the next question to be asked, and (3) the inconsistency detection between answers to different questions. These rule-based components allow us to escape a predetermined question sequence, achieving flexibility and adaptability to the user’s answers; besides, they enhance usability allowing an easy navigation along the different survey questions and the possibility to backtrack and revise the answers, at any moment, without loosing global coherence. There is an explicit treatment of inconsistent situations by exposing them and inviting the user to revise his answers. De.:SID benefits from the qualities that are generally associated with rulebased systems: (1) separation from other system elements (database, middleware and web graphical user interfaces) allowing its explicit management, reusability and independent modification, (2) externalization which allows everyone to know and understand the decision making process, and finally (3) easy modification of rules that are modular and can be easily deleted, inserted or changed.
    2008Journal article Open access Show more