Class-based vs. instance-based interface design for unanticipated user-generated content in student life reporting

Abstract

This thesis investigates the effectiveness of Instance-Based versus Class-Based interface designs in capturing and managing user-generated content within a student life context. With the proliferation of digital platforms, the volume and variety of usergenerated content have surged, challenging traditional structured user interface designs. Traditional Class-Based interface designs often fail to accommodate the dynamic nature of user-generated content, leading to the potential loss of valuable insights. In contrast, Instance-Based interface designs offer a flexible, potentially improving data representation and usability. This thesis explores the consequences of using Class-based versus Instance-Based interface design to collect user-generated content, focusing on student life reporting. The study is driven by questions on how these two interface configurations compare in their capacity to manage the diverse nature of user-generated content. By applying both designs in a real-world setting and analyzing the resultant data, the study aims to furnish empirical insights into the suitability of each design for user-generated content data collection and management. The findings suggest that while Instance-Based interface design offers significant improvements in flexibility and data representation, it also poses challenges in terms of complexity and user engagement. This research contributes to the broader discourse on data models in the context of big data, highlighting the potential of Instance-Based interface design to enhance the collection of user-generated content. Keywords: Conceptual modeling, interface design, data models, instance-based, classbased, student life reporting.