Improving comprehension of knowledge representation languages: A case study with Description Logics. Issue 122 (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Warren, Paul; Mulholland, Paul; Collins, Trevor; Motta, Enrico
• Is Part Of: International journal of human-computer studies. Issue 122(2019)
• Page Start: 145
• Page End: 167
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: Description Logics -- Manchester OWL Syntax -- User studies -- Psychological theories of reasoning; Human-machine systems -- Periodicals; Systems engineering -- Periodicals; Human engineering -- Periodicals; Human engineering; Human-machine systems; Systems engineering; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 004.019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2018.08.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1071-5819

Abstract

Highlights: Insights from psychology and the philosophy of language help understanding of how people comprehend and reason with Description Logics. The use of natural language in knowledge representation languages can assist comprehension but also create ambiguity. Alternative or additional Manchester OWL Syntax keywords can significantly improve comprehension. An understanding of De Morgan's Laws and the analogous duality laws for restrictions would aid reasoning with Manchester OWL Syntax. Future development of knowledge representation languages should take account of psychological theories of reasoning and of how natural language is used. Abstract: Knowledge representation languages are frequently difficult to understand, particularly for those not trained in formal logic. This is the case for Description Logics, which have been adopted for knowledge representation on the Web and in a number of application areas. This work looks at the difficulties experienced with Description Logics; and in particular with the widely-used Manchester OWL Syntax, which employs natural language keywords. The work comprises three studies. The first two identify a number of difficulties which users experience, e.g. with negated intersection, functional properties, the use of subproperties and restrictions. Insights from cognitive psychology and the study of language are applied to understand these difficulties. Whilst these difficulties are in part inherent in reasoning about logic, and Description Logics in particular, they are made worse by the syntax. In the third study, alternative syntactic constructs are proposed which demonstrate some improvement in accuracy and efficiency of comprehension. In addition to proposing alternative syntactic constructs, the work makes some suggestions regarding training and support systems for Description Logics.