Understanding how people approach constraint modelling and solving

Ruth Hoffmann; Xu Zhu; Ozgur Akgun; Miguel Nacenta

doi:10.4230/LIPIcs.CP.2022.28

Understanding how people approach constraint modelling and solving

Ruth Hoffmann^*, Xu Zhu, Ozgur Akgun, Miguel Nacenta

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Computer Science

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

2 Citations (Scopus)

47 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Research in constraint programming typically focuses on problem solving efficiency. However, the way users conceptualise problems and communicate with constraint programming tools is often sidelined. How humans think about constraint problems can be important for the development of efficient tools that are useful to a broader audience. For example, a system incorporating knowledge on how people think about constraint problems can provide explanations to users and improve the communication between the human and the solver.

We present an initial step towards a better understanding of the human side of the constraint solving process. To our knowledge, this is the first human-centred study addressing how people approach constraint modelling and solving. We observed three sets of ten users each (constraint programmers, computer scientists and non-computer scientists) and analysed how they find solutions for well-known constraint problems. We found regularities offering clues about how to design systems that are more intelligible to humans.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	28th International conference on principles and practice of constraint programming (CP 2022)
Editors	Christine Solnon
Place of Publication	Dagstuhl
Publisher	Schloss Dagstuhl- Leibniz-Zentrum fur Informatik GmbH, Dagstuhl Publishing
Number of pages	18
ISBN (Electronic)	9783959772402
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4230/LIPIcs.CP.2022.28
Publication status	Published - 23 Jul 2022
Event	28th International Conference on Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming (CP 2022) - Haifa, Israel Duration: 31 Jul 2022 → 5 Aug 2022 Conference number: 28 https://cp2022.a4cp.org/

Publication series

Name	Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)
Volume	235
ISSN (Electronic)	1868-8969

Conference

Conference	28th International Conference on Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming (CP 2022)
Abbreviated title	CP 2022
Country/Territory	Israel
City	Haifa
Period	31/07/22 → 5/08/22
Internet address	https://cp2022.a4cp.org/

Keywords

Constraint modelling
HCI
User study
Grounded theory

Access to Document

10.4230/LIPIcs.CP.2022.28Licence: CC BY

LIPIcs-CP-2022-28
Copyright © Ruth Hoffmann, Xu Zhu, Özgür Akgün, and Miguel A. Nacenta; licensed under Creative Commons License CC-BY 4.0.
Final published version, 2.54 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Hoffmann, R., Zhu, X., Akgun, O., & Nacenta, M. (2022). Understanding how people approach constraint modelling and solving. In C. Solnon (Ed.), 28th International conference on principles and practice of constraint programming (CP 2022) Article 28 (Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs); Vol. 235). Schloss Dagstuhl- Leibniz-Zentrum fur Informatik GmbH, Dagstuhl Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4230/LIPIcs.CP.2022.28

Hoffmann, Ruth ; Zhu, Xu ; Akgun, Ozgur et al. / Understanding how people approach constraint modelling and solving. 28th International conference on principles and practice of constraint programming (CP 2022). editor / Christine Solnon. Dagstuhl : Schloss Dagstuhl- Leibniz-Zentrum fur Informatik GmbH, Dagstuhl Publishing, 2022. (Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)).

@inproceedings{1436930e0d004c7fa6adee33e4c98bd6,

title = "Understanding how people approach constraint modelling and solving",

abstract = "Research in constraint programming typically focuses on problem solving efficiency. However, the way users conceptualise problems and communicate with constraint programming tools is often sidelined. How humans think about constraint problems can be important for the development of efficient tools that are useful to a broader audience. For example, a system incorporating knowledge on how people think about constraint problems can provide explanations to users and improve the communication between the human and the solver.We present an initial step towards a better understanding of the human side of the constraint solving process. To our knowledge, this is the first human-centred study addressing how people approach constraint modelling and solving. We observed three sets of ten users each (constraint programmers, computer scientists and non-computer scientists) and analysed how they find solutions for well-known constraint problems. We found regularities offering clues about how to design systems that are more intelligible to humans.",

keywords = "Constraint modelling, HCI, User study, Grounded theory",

author = "Ruth Hoffmann and Xu Zhu and Ozgur Akgun and Miguel Nacenta",

note = "Funding: This work is partially funded by NSERC Discovery Grant 2020-04401 (Canada). Xu Zhu: University of St Andrews and EPSRC grant DTG 1796157. ; 28th International Conference on Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming (CP 2022), CP 2022 ; Conference date: 31-07-2022 Through 05-08-2022",

year = "2022",

month = jul,

day = "23",

doi = "10.4230/LIPIcs.CP.2022.28",

language = "English",

series = "Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)",

publisher = "Schloss Dagstuhl- Leibniz-Zentrum fur Informatik GmbH, Dagstuhl Publishing",

editor = "Christine Solnon",

booktitle = "28th International conference on principles and practice of constraint programming (CP 2022)",

url = "https://cp2022.a4cp.org/",

}

Hoffmann, R , Zhu, X , Akgun, O & Nacenta, M 2022, Understanding how people approach constraint modelling and solving. in C Solnon (ed.), 28th International conference on principles and practice of constraint programming (CP 2022)., 28, Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs), vol. 235, Schloss Dagstuhl- Leibniz-Zentrum fur Informatik GmbH, Dagstuhl Publishing, Dagstuhl, 28th International Conference on Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming (CP 2022), Haifa, Israel, 31/07/22. https://doi.org/10.4230/LIPIcs.CP.2022.28

Understanding how people approach constraint modelling and solving. / Hoffmann, Ruth ; Zhu, Xu ; Akgun, Ozgur et al.
28th International conference on principles and practice of constraint programming (CP 2022). ed. / Christine Solnon. Dagstuhl: Schloss Dagstuhl- Leibniz-Zentrum fur Informatik GmbH, Dagstuhl Publishing, 2022. 28 (Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs); Vol. 235).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

TY - GEN

T1 - Understanding how people approach constraint modelling and solving

AU - Hoffmann, Ruth

AU - Zhu, Xu

AU - Akgun, Ozgur

AU - Nacenta, Miguel

N1 - Conference code: 28

PY - 2022/7/23

Y1 - 2022/7/23

N2 - Research in constraint programming typically focuses on problem solving efficiency. However, the way users conceptualise problems and communicate with constraint programming tools is often sidelined. How humans think about constraint problems can be important for the development of efficient tools that are useful to a broader audience. For example, a system incorporating knowledge on how people think about constraint problems can provide explanations to users and improve the communication between the human and the solver.We present an initial step towards a better understanding of the human side of the constraint solving process. To our knowledge, this is the first human-centred study addressing how people approach constraint modelling and solving. We observed three sets of ten users each (constraint programmers, computer scientists and non-computer scientists) and analysed how they find solutions for well-known constraint problems. We found regularities offering clues about how to design systems that are more intelligible to humans.

AB - Research in constraint programming typically focuses on problem solving efficiency. However, the way users conceptualise problems and communicate with constraint programming tools is often sidelined. How humans think about constraint problems can be important for the development of efficient tools that are useful to a broader audience. For example, a system incorporating knowledge on how people think about constraint problems can provide explanations to users and improve the communication between the human and the solver.We present an initial step towards a better understanding of the human side of the constraint solving process. To our knowledge, this is the first human-centred study addressing how people approach constraint modelling and solving. We observed three sets of ten users each (constraint programmers, computer scientists and non-computer scientists) and analysed how they find solutions for well-known constraint problems. We found regularities offering clues about how to design systems that are more intelligible to humans.

KW - Constraint modelling

KW - HCI

KW - User study

KW - Grounded theory

UR - https://doi.org/10.4230/LIPIcs.CP.2022.0

UR - https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6519842

U2 - 10.4230/LIPIcs.CP.2022.28

DO - 10.4230/LIPIcs.CP.2022.28

M3 - Conference contribution

T3 - Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)

BT - 28th International conference on principles and practice of constraint programming (CP 2022)

A2 - Solnon, Christine

PB - Schloss Dagstuhl- Leibniz-Zentrum fur Informatik GmbH, Dagstuhl Publishing

CY - Dagstuhl

T2 - 28th International Conference on Principles and Practice of Constraint Programming (CP 2022)

Y2 - 31 July 2022 through 5 August 2022

ER -

Hoffmann R , Zhu X , Akgun O, Nacenta M. Understanding how people approach constraint modelling and solving. In Solnon C, editor, 28th International conference on principles and practice of constraint programming (CP 2022). Dagstuhl: Schloss Dagstuhl- Leibniz-Zentrum fur Informatik GmbH, Dagstuhl Publishing. 2022. 28. (Leibniz International Proceedings in Informatics (LIPIcs)). doi: 10.4230/LIPIcs.CP.2022.28

Understanding how people approach constraint modelling and solving

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

stacs-cp/cp2022-hcicp: Published @ CP2022

Cite this

Understanding how people approach constraint modelling and solving

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Datasets

stacs-cp/cp2022-hcicp: Published @ CP2022

Cite this