This survey is about the user understanding of the semantics of negative sequential patterns.

Sequential patterns are mathematical tools to analyse logs of events, so called sequences. This object is used in data science to formalize the behavior that can be identified in a log. p=< a b c> is an example of a sequential pattern and we are interested in how it occurs in a sequence s=< e b e a f b d c e f>. Negative sequential patterns are sequential patterns with some events that must be absent (more details will be given during the survey).

This survey is a part of study about the understanding of negative sequential patterns. Indeed, during our work on theoretical aspects of negative sequential patterns, we noticed that people do not share a common understanding of these objects. This survey aims at answering the following question: Is there possibly some confusion from the syntax of negative sequential pattern mining? What are the possible understandings? What are the most dominant understandings? No need to be an expert in data science to fill in the survey. The basic definitions are introduced.

How does this survey go?

It takes less than 15 minutes and it has three main parts:

1. a few questions about your background knowledge. Please note that no personnal information is gathered during this survey. We only record your answer and the date when you filled in this survey.
2. the presentation of classical sequential patterns (with a question to assess your understanding)
3. the presentation of negative sequential patterns followed by four questions. This part is not a test, there is no absolute answer: fill in it with your own understanding of negative sequential patterns.

At any time, you can go back to revise your answer (but you will have to fill in them again).

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If you have any question about this survey, do not hesitate to contact its author thomas(dot)guyet(at)irisa.fr (IRISA/LACODAM).