Comparative Study of Four Data Modeling Approaches
J.H. ter Bekke

Abstract
The regular national examination on "Analysis, modeling and management of data" in The Netherlands has been used for an analysis of four modern data modeling approaches, namely: relational, semantic, entity-relationship and binary. Comparison of these approaches was possible because there were enough candidates with the same educational training in data modeling. The analyzed examination session gave candidates for the first time in many years the possibility to choose their own favourite data modeling approach for the design case in the examination work.
This paper starts with an overview of the main concepts of the four data modeling approaches. The description and standard solutions of the design case are given together with illustrations of some major characteristics of the four approaches. Analyses of the scores indicate among others that better candidates choose for the semantic approach. Their overall scores were therefore also higher.
Keywords: data modeling, model evaluation

Publication Data
Proceedings Second CAiSE/IFIP 8.1 International Workshop on Evaluation of Modeling Methods in Systems Analysis and Design, Barcelona, pp. B1-B12.
Editors: K. Siau, Y. Wand and J. Parsons
Year: 1997