On the Impact of UML Analysis Models on Source Code Comprehensibility and Modifiability

We carried out a family of experiments to investigate whether the use of UML models produced in the requirements analysis process helps in the comprehensibility and modifiability of source code. The family consists of a controlled experiment and three external replications, carried out with students and profession- als from Italy and Spain. 86 participants with different abilities and levels of experience with the UML took part. The results of the experiments were integrated through the use of a meta-analysis. The results of both the individual experiments and the meta-analysis indicate that UML models produced in the requirements analysis process influence neither the comprehensibility of source code nor its modifiability