Cuban Crabs
(c) Mike Davison
Dr. Helen C. Purchase
Senior Lecturer
Department of Computing Science
University of Glasgow

Room S104,17 Lilybank Gardens, G12 8QQ
Email: hcp@    dcs.gla.ac.uk
Telephone:  +44-141-330-4484
Fax: +44-141-330-3103
Administrative Roles:

Convenor of the Postgraduate Taught Courses in the School of Computing Science

Postgraduate Advisor of Studies: I am advisor of studies for all the MSc(Information Technology) students in the School of Computing Science. (Former undergraduate advisees, please note: you will be informed in due course of who will be taking over as your new advisor of studies for 2011/12)

Current Projects:

Effectiveness of Graph Layout Algorithms: This project investigates the effectiveness (from a human usability point of view) of automatic graph layout algorithms, which are usually valued for their computational efficiency, or the extent to which they conform to common aesthetic criteria (e.g.: minimising the number of edge crossings, maximising symmetrical displays). Recently, this project has addressed dynamic layout algorithms (The Edge Project:) as well as heirarchical, clustered and difference graph drawings.

Sketched Graph Drawings : Using SketchNode, a tablet-based system for sketching graphs, this project investigates the way in which users draw graphs, and the aesthetics that user-generated drawings conform to.

Aesthetic Visualisation I am interesting in how the visual style of an interface may affect the user experience, most particularly with respect to task performance. With the help of several students in recent years, I have conducted experiments that measure task performance in relation to different 'visual aesthetics', focussing on the spatial layout of objects, but also looking at colour, font and shape.

Enabling Peer Assessment: Aropa is a peer-assessment system developed by Dr John Hamer at the University of Auckland which has been successfully used there over a wide variety of subjects for ten years. With funding from the UK Higher Education Academy and The University of Auckland, we are working on adapting it for multi-institutional use, focussing on using it at the University of Glasgow in 2010/11 for (at least) Veterinary Science, Management, Psychology, Computing Science and Biology.

Students creating Multiple Choice Questions: Peerwise is a system developed at the University of Auckland by Paul Denny, which is now used in several institutions worldwide. I have been working on a project with Paul, John Hamer and Andrew-Luxton Reilly to investigate the benefits of PeerWise use on student learning and engagement.

Contributing Student Pedagogies This project investigates the benefits of educational methods that encourage students to contribute to the learning of others and to value the contributions made by other students. We have written an extensive survey of the variety of CSPs used in Computing Science Higher Education, as well as a substantial report on the technologies that support such educational methods.

The Share Project ('To see ourselves as others see us: sharing and representing disciplinary classroom practice') I have signed up to take part in the Share Project Survey, which entails writing (and sharing) a diary entry one day a month for a year. The aim of these diaries is to learn more about the lives, beliefs, conditions of work, important issues and habits of 'the everyday academic' and to examine disciplinary teaching practice and its relationship to student achievement.

HCI Disciplinary Commons: I am a member of the HCI Disciplinary Commons led by Professor Sally Fincher; as part of this project I have produced a teaching portfolio for my HCI teaching, as well as a retrospective video.


Teaching Responsibilities:

2010-12: Principles and Practise of Computing Science (level 1): This course is intended for students with a non-technical background who wish to study the key principles of computing science (rather than computer programming), and to develop skills in "computational thinking." Principles of computation underpin the design of all the technology we see around us - mobile phones, ATMs, washing machines etc. - and understanding and using computational skills helps us understand an increasingly complex world. The course can be taken by any student who does not intend to do Computing Science Honours.

2010/11: Computing Science in the Curriculm(level 4): This course is a year-long elective course for Honours students. Students are allocated to a school, which they visit for half a day every week. There they take part in activities that help pupils learn about Computing Science, and are required to prepare and conduct their own workshop for teaching a fundamental computing concept. Enrollments in this class are limited, and only students who attend an interview in June may be accepted.

2007-9: General Readings in Computing Science (MSc(CS), MSc(IT)): This year-long course covers papers of general interest which discussed with the class each week: the papers and assessment material are available on Moodle.

2002-9: Information Management (level 2): This course covers techniques in managing and presenting information, in the context of the potential uses of an information system. The course demonstrates the ways of building information systems, from data repository design to presentation to users, and contrasts the content of the information being managed with the methods of managing it and the ways of presenting it to users.

2007-9: Human Computer Interaction (level 1, as part of CS1Q): This course covers the main aspects of HCI: users, interfaces and interaction, as well as the process of design and evaluation in an iterative process. Some special interest topics are also addressed (for example, CSCW and Information Visualisation).

2005-7: Research Readings in Computing Science (MSci, MRes): This first-semester course covers 11 Computing Science research topics, one a week for 11 weeks. The sessions revolve around discussion of four seminal research papers in the topic and are led by topic specialists as well as by students. The papers and assessmetn guidelines are available on Moodle.

2005-6: Advanced Research Readings in Computing Science (MSci, MScRes): This second-semester course is run in small groups, each group covering one of the eleven topics introduced in RRCS, thus allowing students to concentrate on the topics that interest them. Like RRCS, the meetings revolve around the discussion of research papers, and are led by one or more lecturers from the relevant research group.

2002-5: User Centered Software Design (MScIT): This module presents key knowledge needed for the design, implementation and evaluation of effective user interfaces. The lecture material covers theoretical topics and principles of interative design, while the lab sessions are 'studio-based', with students actively engaged in their own design project. [This course is not running at present]

2005/6: Professional Software Development (MSc(IT), MSc(CS)): This module covers techniques required for building large software systems (including requirements, analysis, design, testing and evaluation), and the management of software projects.

Previous Research Projects:

Computer Science Education (Higher Education): This action learning project investigated the use of novel learning activities that encourage students to accept the fact that there may be multiple solutions to a single problem, and that their own solutions (and those of their peers) can contribute to their learning.

Usability of Software Engineering diagrams and presentation: This project is an extension of the Effectiveness of Graph Layout Algorithms project, where the graphs under consideration are those used in software engineering applications (for example, UML diagrams, entity-relationship diagrams). Usability studies are used to establish the usefulness (from a human comprehension perspective) of both the notation and layout of these diagrams.

Multimedia models: This project used ideas and terminology from the field of semiotics to define an unambiguous model of multimedia communication (along the dimensions of sign, syntax and modality), which has been empirically evaluated for its understandability.

Postgraduate students:

The aesthetics of interface layout (Carolyn Salimun): Carolyn is investigating different methods of interface design, based on formule that measure the extent of different layout aesthetic principles (e.g. symmetry, regularity) in an interface. She will be running several experiments looking at participants' performance, preferences and processes in performing a task.

Usability of Grammar Formalisms for free and fixed-word order languages (Mark Pedersen, The University of Queensland): Mark investigated different grammar formalisms (DG, PSG and LFG) for the suitability for representing free-word order in Hindi and English. Usability studies were conducted to determine the relative effectiveness of these grammar formalisms.

Electronic Blocks (Peta Wyeth, The University of Queensland): Peta defined and implemented electronic blocks suitable for children between the ages of 3 and 8 which enable a simple form of programming using input, output and logic blocks. The use of these blocks was evaluated with pre-school and primary school children.

Publications:

Book Chapters:

Purchase, H.C.; Andrienko, N.; Jankun-Kelly, T.J.; Ward, M. Theoretical Foundations of Information Visualization. In: Kerren, A.; Statsko, J.T.; Fekete, J.-D.; North, C., editors. Vol. 4950, Information Visualization - Human-Centered Issues and Perspectives: Springer; 2008. p. 46-64.

Purchase, H.C. Evaluating Graph Drawing Aesthetics: defining and exploring a new empirical research area. In: DiMarco, J., editor, Computer Graphics and Multimedia: Applications, Problems and Solutions: Idea Group Publishing; 2004. p. 145-178.

Purchase, H.C.; Colpoys, L.; Carrington, D.; McGill, M. UML Class Diagrams: An Empirical Study of Comprehension. In: Zhang, K., editor, Software Visualization - From Theory to Practice: Kluwer; 2003. p. 149-178.

Purchase, H.C.; Naumann, D. A Semiotic Model of Multimedia: Theory and Evaluation. In: Rahman, S.M., editor, Design and Management of Multimedia Information Systems: Opportunities and Challenges: Idea Group Publishing; 2001. p. 1-21.

Purchase, H.C. Informationally Equivalent Representations: An architecture and applications. In: Wiles, J.; Dartnall, T., editors, Perspectives on Cognitive Science, vol II: Theories, experiments, and foundations: Ablex; 1999. p. 329-346.

Burmeister, J.; Wiles, J.; Purchase, H.C. The integration of cognitive knowledge into a perceptual representation: Lessons from Human and Computer Go. In: Wiles, J.; Dartnall, T., editors, Perspectives on Cognitive Science, vol II: Theories, experiments, and foundations: Ablex; 1999. p. 239-258.

Bradshaw, J.; Purchase, H.C. Three ecological applications in P.R.O. In: Vadera, S., editor, Expert system Applications: Sigma Press; 1989. p. 133-148.

Journal Articles:

Purchase, H.C.; Pilcher, C.; Plimmer, B. Graph drawing aesthetics - created by users not algorithms. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics. 2010:(to appear).

Archambault, D.; Purchase, H.C.; Pinaud, B. The Readability of Path-Preserving Clusterings of Graphs. Computer Graphics Forum. 2010;29(3):1173-1182.

Archambault, D.; Purchase, H.C.; Pinaud, B. Animation, Small Multiples, and the effect of Mental Map preservation in Dynamic graphs. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics 2010;99:(to appear).

Denny, P.; Luxton-Reilly, A.; Hamer, J.; Purchase, H.C. Coverage of course topics in a student generated MCQ repository. ACM SIGCSE Bulletin. 2009;41(3):11-15.

Hamer, J.; Cutts, Q.; Jackova, J.; Luxton-Reilly, A.; McCartney, R.; Purchase, H.C.; Riesdel, C.; Saela, M.; Sheard, J. Contributing Student Pedagogy. SIGSCE Bulletin. 2008;40(4):196-214.

Purchase, H.C. Student Compliace with Ethical Guidelines: The Glasgow Ethics Code. ITALICS, HEA (Information and Computer Sciences). 2006;5(2):1-5.

Holz, H.; Applin, A.; Haberman, B.; Joyce, D.; Purchase, H.C.; Reed, C. Research Methods in Computing: What are they, and how should we teach them? SIGSCE Bulletin. 2006;38(4):96-114.

Purchase, H.C.; Welland, R.; McGill, M.; Colpoys, L. Comprehension of diagram syntax: an empirical study of Entity Relationship Diagram notations. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies. 2004;61(2):187-203.

Wyeth, P.; Purchase, H.C. Designing Technology for Children: Moving from the Computer into the Physical World with Electronic Blocks. Information Technology in Childhood Education Annual,. 2002;1:219-244.

Ware, C.; Purchase, H.C.; Colpoys, L.; McGill, M. Cognitive Measurements of Graph Aesthetics,. Information Visualization. 2002;1(2):103-110.

Purchase, H.C.; Worrill, J. An Empirical Study of Online Help Design: Features and Principles. International Journal of Human Computer Studies. 2002;56(5):539-567.

Purchase, H.C.; Carrington, D.; Allder, J.-A. Empirical evaluation of aesthetics-based graph layout. Empirical Software Engineering. 2002;7(3):233-255.

Purchase, H.C.; Carrington, D.; Allder, J.-A. Graph Layout Aesthetics in UML diagrams: User Preferences. Journal of Graph Algorithms and Applications. 2002;6(3):255-279.

Purchase, H.C. Metrics for Graph Drawing Aesthetics. Journal of Visual Languages and Computing,. 2002;13(5):501-516.

Wyeth, P.; Purchase, H.C. Exploring the Learning Potential of an Artificial Life Simulation. International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning. 2001;11(3):229-241.

Wyeth, P.; Purchase, H.C. Exploring the Learning Potential of an Artificial Life Simulation. International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-long Learning. 2001;11(3):229-241.

Purchase, H.C. Effective information visualisation: a study of graph drawing aesthetics and algorithms. Interacting with Computers. 2000;13(2):477-506.

Purchase, H.C. Learning about Interface Design through Peer Assessment. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education. 2000;25(4):341-352.

Purchase, H.C. A Semiotic Definition of Multimedia Communication. Semiotica. 1999;123(3/4):247-259.

Dia, H.; Purchase, H.C. Modelling the impacts of advanced traveller information systems using intelligent agents. Road and Transport Research. 1999;8(3):68-73.

Purchase, H.C. Defining Multimedia. IEEE Multimedia. 1998;5(1):8-15.

Purchase, H.C. Performance of Layout Algorithms: Comprehension, not Computation. Journal of Visual Languages and Computing,. 1998;9(6):647-657.

Purchase, H.C. Performance of layout algorithms: Comprehension, not computation. Journal of Visual Languages and Computing,. 1998;9(6):647-657.

Purchase, H.C.; Cohen, R.F.; James, M. An Experimental Study of the Basis for Graph Drawing Algorithms,. ACM Journal of Experimental Algorithmics. 1997;2(4):1-17.

Conference Papers:

Salimun, C.; Purchase, H.C.; Simmons, D.R.; Brewster, S. Preference ranking of screen layout principles. In L. MacKinnon & T. McEwan (Eds) Play is a serious business, Proceedings of the 24th BCS HCI Conference, British Computer Society, pp81-87

Salimun, C.; Purchase, H.C.; Simmons, D.; Brewster, S. The Effect of Aesthetically Pleasing Composition on Visual Search Performance. Nordic HCI conference, 2010. pp422-431.

Purchase, H.C.; Hamer, J.; Denny, P.; Luxton-Reilly, A. The Quality of a PeerWise MCQ Repository. Australasian Computing Education Conference: CPRIT; 2010. p. 135-142.

Purchase, H.; Plimmer, B.; Baker, R.; Pilcher, C. Graph drawing aesthetics in user-sketched graph layouts. 11th Australasian User Interface Conference: CPRIT 2010. p. 80-88.

Plimmer, B.; Purchase, H.C.; Yang, H.-Y. SketchNode: Intelligent sketching support and formal diagramming OzChi conference; 2010. p. (to appear).

Denny, P.; Dahlstrom, D.; Purchase, H.C.; Luxton-Reilly, A.; Hamer, J. Self-Predicted and Actual Performance in an Introductory Programming Course., 15th annual conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education (ITiCSE); 2010. p. 118-122.

Archambault, D.; Purchase, H.C.; Pinaud, B. Difference Map Readability for Dynamic Graphs. Graph Drawing Conference: Springer; 2010. p. (to appear).

Plimmer, B.; Purchase, H.C.; Yang, H.-Y.; Laylock, L.; Milburn, J. Preserving the Hand-drawn Appearance of Graphs. . International Workshop on Visual Languages and Computing; 2009. p. 347-352.

Mitchell, A.; Purchase, H.C.; Hamer, J.; Barr, D.; Melvin, S. Computing Science: What do pupils think? , 14th annual ACM SIGCSE conference on Innovation and technology in computer science education ACM; 2009. p. 353-351.

Hamer, J.; Purchase, H.C.; Denny, P.; Luxton-Reilly, A. Quality of peer assessment in CS1. 5th international workshop on Computing Education Research; 2009. p. 27-36.

Saffrey, P.; Purchase, H.C. The 'Mental map' versus 'Static aesthetic' compromise in dynamic graphs: a user study. Vol. 314, 9th Australasian User Interface Conference: ACM International Conference Proceeding Series; 2008. p. 85-93.

Purchase, H.C.; Samra, A. Extremes are better: Investigating mental map preservation in dynamic graphs. Vol. 5223, Diagrams conference: LNAI, Springer Verlag; 2008. p. 60-73.

Denny, P.; Luxton-Reilly, A.; Hamer, J.; Purchase, H.C. PeerWise: Students Sharing their Multiple Choice Questions., Fourth International Computing Education Research Workshop; 2008. p. 51-58.

Denny, P.; Hamer, J.; Luxton-Reilly, A.; Purchase, H.C. PeerWise. 8th Koli Calling International Conference on Computing Education Research; 2008. p. 109-122.

Reid, P.; Hallet-Hook, F.; Plimmer, B.; Purchase, H. Applying layout algorithms to hand-drawn graphs. OzCHI; 2007. p. 203-206.

Purchase, H.C.; Hoggan, E.; Gorg, C. How important is the "Mental Map"? - An empirical investigation of a dynamic graph layout algorithm. Vol. 4372, Graph Drawing Conference: LNCS, Springer Verlag; 2006. p. 184-195.

Brown, L.; Brewster, S.; Purchase, H.C. A first investigation into the effectiveness of Tactons. First Joint Eurohaptics Conference; 2005. p. 167-176.

Purchase, H.C.; Mitchell, C.; Ounis, I. Gauging Students' Understanding Through Interactive Lectures. In: Williams, H.; McKinnon, L., editors. Vol. LNCS 3112, BNCOD 21: Springer Verlag; 2004. p. 234-243.

Wyeth, P.; Purchase, H.C. Using Developmental Theories to Inform the Deisgn of Technology for Children. Interaction Design and Children conference: ACS; 2003. p. 93-100.

Wyeth, P.; Purchase, H.C. Tangible Programming Elements for Young Children. In: Comstock, B.; Sasse, M.A., editors, CHI ACM; 2002. p. 774-775.

Purchase, H.C.; Colpoys, L.; McGill, M.; Carrington, D. UML collaboration diagram syntax: an empirical study of comprehension. In: Knight, C.; Storey, M.-A.; Munro, M., editors, First International Workshop of Visualizing Sofware for Understanding and Analysis,: IEEE; 2002. p. 13-22.

Carrington, D.; Colpoys, L.; McGill, M.; Purchase, H.C. Experimenting with Layout and Notation in UML Diagrams. Vol. 2, International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering IEEE; 2002. p. 9-10.

Purchase, H.C.; McGill, M.; Colpoys, L.; Carrington, D. Graph drawing aesthetics and the comprehension of UML class diagrams: an empirical study. In: Eades, P.; Pattison, T., editors, Symposium on Information Visualisation; 2001. p. 129-137.

Purchase, H.C.; Colpoys, L.; McGill, M.; Carrington, D.; Britton, C. UML Class diagram syntax: an empirical study of comprehension. In: Eades, P.a.P., T., editor, Australasian Symposium on Information Visualisation: Australia Computer Society; 2001. p. 113-120.

Wyeth, P.; Purchase, H.C. Programming without a Computer: A new interface for children under eight. In: Thomas, B.; Warren, J., editors, Australasian User Interface Conference: IEEE; 2000. p. 141-148.

Purchase, H.C.; Naumann, D. The TOMUS Model of Multimedia: an empirical investigation. In: Bordeau, J.; Heller, R., editors, Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications Conference: AACE; 2000. p. 922-927.

Purchase, H.C.; Carrington, D.; Allder, J.-A. Experimenting with aesthetics-based graph layout. In: Anderson, M.; Cheng, P.; Haarslev, V., editors. Vol. LNAI 1889, Theory and Application of Diagrams Conference: Springer Verlag; 2000. p. 498-501.

Purchase, H.C.; Allder, J.-A.; Carrington, D. User preference of Graph Layout Aesthetics: a UML study. In: Marks, J., editor. Vol. LNCS 1984, Graph Drawing symposium: S[ringer Verlag; 2000. p. 5-18.

Purchase, H.C. Peer Assessment: Encouraging Reflection on Interface Design. Australasian Computer Science Conference: IEEE; 2000. p. 196-203.

Wyeth, P.; Purchase, H.C. Developmentally Appropriate Learning: Implications for Early Childhood Technology Education. Ninth International PEG Conference; 1999. p. 115-122.

Purchase, H.C. The Effects of Graph Layout. OzCHI IEEE; 1998. p. 80-86.

Purchase, H.C.; Hussey, A.; Brookes, W.; Leadbetter, D. Fostering interest in Information Technology: running a vacation school for pre-university students. In: Hurst, J.; Søndergaard, H., editors, Second Australasian Conference on Computer Science Education: ACM; 1997. p. 126-134.

Purchase, H.C. Which aesthetic has the greatest effect on human understanding? In: Di Battista, G., editor. Vol. LNCS 1353, Graph Drawing Symposium: Springer Verlag; 1997. p. 248-259.

Purchase, H.C. Multimedia Communication and Technology: a Semiotic Perspective. In: Smith, M.; Salvendy, G.; Koubek, R.J., editors, HCI International Conference: Elsevier; 1997. p. 687-690.

Purchase, H.C. Which aesthetic has the greatest effect on human understanding? Vol. 1353, Graph Drawing Conference: LNCS, Springer Verlag; 1997. p. 248-261.

Hussey, A.; Leadbetter, D.; Purchase, H.C. Learning object-oriented programming in six hours: an experience with school students. In: Hurst, J., editor, Australasian Conference on Computer Science Education: ACM Press; 1997. p. 117-125.

Strooper, P.; Bakker, P.; Carrington, D.; Creasy, P.; Goodchild, A.; MacColl, I.; Purchase, H.C. Setting Up a Tutor Training Programme in Computer Science. In: Rosenberg, J., editor, Australian Conference on Computer Science Education: ACM Press; 1996. p. 254-259.

Purchase, H.C.; Kennish, J.M. Gloss: interactive navigation of lexical space. In: Yong, G.; Herman, L.; Leung, Y.K.; Moyes, J., editors, Asia-Pacific conference on Human Computer Interaction; 1996.

Pederson, M.; Purchase, H.C. Pragmatics versus Purism - taking the best of both worlds. In: Estival, D.; Dale, R., editors, PRICAI-96 Workshop on Future Issues for Multi-lingual Text Processing; 1996.

Purchase, H.C.; Cohen, R.F.; James, M. Validating Graph Drawing Aesthetics. In: Brandenberg, F., editor. Vol. LNCS 1027, Graph Drawing Symposium: Springer Verlag; 1995. p. 435-446.

Purchase, H.C. Interactive schematic representation systems and related research issues. In: Jonassen, D.; McGalla, G., editors, International Conference on Computers in Education: AACE; 1995.

Bakker, P.; Carrington, D.; Goodchild, A.; Hayes, I.; Purchase, H.C.; Strooper, P. The communicating technologist: An educational challenge. In: Budny, D.; Herrick, B., editors, Frontiers in Education Conference: IEEE Press; 1995. p. 4a4.1 - 4a4.4 vol.2

Purchase, H.C. Computers as interactive representational devices for declarative domains. In: Ottman, T.; Tomek, I., editors, World conference on Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia: AACE; 1994.

Purchase, H.C. Kreek : Investigating pre-adolescent symbolic, structural envisagement, and reflective skills. Seventh PEG conference on AI tools and the classroom: theory into practise; 1993.

Purchase, H.C. A schematic knowledge-based educational system and its use in investigating symbolic processing, structural envisagement, and reflective skills. In: Brna, P.; Ohlsson, S.; Pain, H., editors, World conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education: AACE; 1993.

Purchase, H.C.; Robinson, C.B. Kreek : Knowledge presentation, expression and enquiry. In: Bottino, R.M.; Forcheri, P.; Molfino, M.T., editors, Sixth International PEG conference on Knowledge based environments for teaching and learning: Instituo per la Matematica Applicata; 1991.

Purchase, H.C.; Robinson, C.B. Design issues for a knowledge-based educational system. In: McDougall, A.; Dowling, C., editors, 5th World conference on Computers in Education: IFIP; 1990.

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