## 3 Validation and Experimentation
### Empirical Validation
#### 3.2.1 Experimentation Setup  
In this subsection, we describe the research questions stated, the participants involved, the experimental procedure defined, and the tasks they performed. Research Question Statement  
Research questions driving this RestRho case study are as follows:  
* **RQ1**: What facets of user experience, including effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction, stand out when employing RestRho for defining and deploying a RESTful API server, as highlighted by both quantitative and qualitative analyses? * **RQ2**: How do user perceptions of effectiveness, efficiency, and satisfaction differ when using RestRho to create a RESTful API server, considering their prior experi  
Figure 11: Maintainability Index MI for components RhoA Architecture CRA, ServerRestRho CRR, and frameworks used RestRho FRR. Figure 10: Cyclomatic complexity graphs for the components RhoA Architecture CRA, ServerRestRho CRR, and frameworks used RestRho FRR. ence in programming, database design, and web development, as derived from both quantitative and qualitative analyses? To answer these questions, we employed a mixed-methods approach. Effectiveness was measured through the success rates of task completion during the experiment, providing a quantitative assessment of how well users could accomplish predefined tasks using RestRho. Efficiency was inferred from the task completion rates and the time taken to complete each task, offering insights into the users' ability to perform tasks within a reasonable timeframe. Satisfaction was evaluated using a usability questionnaire, capturing qualitative feedback on the users' perceived ease of use, utility, and overall experience with RestRho. This combination of quantitative and qualitative data enabled a comprehensive evaluation of RestRho's performance in real-world scenarios. Participants  
The participants using RestRho were final-year students pursuing a degree in computer engineering. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants. A total of 39 senior students in the computer engineering program (Mage = 23.5 years, SD age = 1.8, ages 22 to 29; 90% male) participated in this study. The participants had experience in programming languages, database design and management, and web application development. Experimental Procedure  
The experimentation initiated with an introductory session aimed at acquainting the users with RestRho. This comprehensive session, spanning 2 h and 10 min, meticulously elucidated and demonstrated RestRho's diverse functionalities and features. Following this introductory session, a subsequent phase commenced where participants were allocated a set of 18 tasks for the execution phase of the experiment (see the Tasks section for further details). These tasks encompassed the practical application of RestRho, requiring participants to utilize and implement RestRho to achieve the specified objectives. Upon the completion and submission of the designated tasks, participants were invited to engage in a two-fold process. Firstly, they were invited to complete a usability questionnaire tailored to assess their experiences. This questionnaire was based mainly on the USE questionnaire [46], with some variations provided by [PERSON]'s Perception of Utility and Ease of Use questionnaire [47] as well as the Purdue Usability Questionnaire [48]. Secondly, participants were prompted to respond to specific open-ended questions aimed at eliciting in-depth insights for a qualitative study. This sequential procedure facilitated an in-depth exploration of RestRho's functionalities, transitioning participants from an informative session to practical application. It culminated in a comprehensive assessment of user experience and usability through the administration of the usability questionnaire and qualitative inquiries for the subsequent qualitative study. Tasks  
Table 4 provides a detailed overview of the tasks assigned to users within the scope of the experiment.