| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
- Baldassarre, Maria Teresa, et al.
(författare)
-
Affective reactions and test-driven development : Results from three experiments and a survey
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Journal of Systems and Software. - : Elsevier Inc.. - 0164-1212 .- 1873-1228. ; 185
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The research on the claimed effects of Test-Driven Development (TDD) on software quality and developers’ productivity has shown inconclusive results. Some researchers have ascribed such results to the negative affective reactions that TDD would provoke when developers apply it. In this paper, we studied whether and in which phases TDD influences the affective states of developers, who are new to this development approach. To that end, we conducted a baseline experiment and two replications, and analyzed the data from these experiments both individually and jointly. Also, we performed methodological triangulation by means of an explanatory survey, whose respondents were experienced with TDD. The results of the baseline experiment suggested that developers like TDD significantly less, compared to a non-TDD approach. Also, developers who apply TDD like implementing production code significantly less than those who apply a non-TDD approach, while testing production code makes TDD developers significantly less happy. These results were not confirmed in the replicated experiments. We found that the moderator that better explains these differences across experiments is experience (in months) with unit testing, practiced in a test-last manner. The higher the experience with unit testing, the more negative the affective reactions caused by TDD. The results from the survey seem to confirm the role of this moderator. © 2021
|
|
| 3. |
- Baldassarre, Maria Teresa, et al.
(författare)
-
Studying test-driven development and its retainment over a six-month time span
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Journal of Systems and Software. - : Elsevier Inc.. - 0164-1212 .- 1873-1228. ; 176
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this paper, we investigate the effect of TDD, as compared to a non-TDD approach, as well as its retainment (or retention) over a time span of (about) six months. To pursue these objectives, we conducted a (quantitative) longitudinal cohort study with 30 novice developers (i.e., third-year undergraduate students in Computer Science). We observed that TDD affects neither the external quality of software products nor developers’ productivity. However, we observed that the participants applying TDD produced significantly more tests, with a higher fault-detection capability, than those using a non-TDD approach. As for the retainment of TDD, we found that TDD is retained by novice developers for at least six months. © 2021 Elsevier Inc.
|
|
| 4. |
- Engström, Emelie, et al.
(författare)
-
How software engineering research aligns with design science : a review
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Empirical Software Engineering. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1573-7616 .- 1382-3256. ; 25:4
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Assessing and communicating software engineering research can be challenging. Design science is recognized as an appropriate research paradigm for applied research, but is rarely explicitly used as a way to present planned or achieved research contributions in software engineering. Applying the design science lens to software engineering research may improve the assessment and communication of research contributions. Aim: The aim of this study is 1) to understand whether the design science lens helps summarize and assess software engineering research contributions, and 2) to characterize different types of design science contributions in the software engineering literature. Method: In previous research, we developed a visual abstract template, summarizing the core constructs of the design science paradigm. In this study, we use this template in a review of a set of 38 award winning software engineering publications to extract, analyze and characterize their design science contributions. Results: We identified five clusters of papers, classifying them according to their different types of design science contributions. Conclusions: The design science lens helps emphasize the theoretical contribution of research output—in terms of technological rules—and reflect on the practical relevance, novelty and rigor of the rules proposed by the research.
|
|
| 5. |
- Holmén Notander, Jesper, et al.
(författare)
-
Challenges in Flexible Safety-Critical Software Development -- An Industrial Qualitative Survey
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Lecture Notes in Computer Science/Product-Focused Software Process Improvement. - Berlin, Heidelberg : Springer Berlin Heidelberg. - 1611-3349 .- 0302-9743. - 9783642392580 ; 7983, s. 283-297
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Development of safety-critical systems is mostly governed by process-heavy paradigms, while increasing demands on flexibility and agility also reach this domain. Objectives. We wanted to explore in more detail the industrial needs and challenges when facing this trend. Method. We launched a qualitative survey, interviewing engineers from four companies in four different industry domains. Results. The survey identifies human factors (skills, experience, and attitudes) being key in safety-critical systems development, as well as good documentation. Certification cost is related to change frequency, which is limiting flexibility. Component reuse and iterative processes were found to increase adaptability to changing customer needs. Conclusions. We conclude that agile development and flexibility may co-exist with safety-critical software development, although there are specific challenges to address.
|
|
| 6. |
- Patón-Romero, J. David, et al.
(författare)
-
Governance and Management of Green IT : A Multi-Case Study
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Information and Software Technology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0950-5849. ; 129
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context: The changes that are taking place with respect to environmental sensitivity are forcing organizations to adopt a new approach to this problem. Implementing sustainability initiatives has become a priority for the social and environmental awareness of organizations that want to stay ahead of the curve. One of the business areas that has, more than others, proven to be a vital asset and a potential ally of the environment, is the area of Information Technology (IT). Through this area, Green IT practices advocate sustainability in and by IT. However, organizations have a significant handicap in this regard, due to the lack of specific Green IT standards and frameworks that help them carry out this type of sustainability practices. Objective: We have developed the “Governance and Management Framework for Green IT” (GMGIT), which establishes the necessary characteristics to implement Green IT in organizations, from the point of view of the governance and management of this area. After developing and validating a first version of this framework, we have performed a set of improvements, obtaining the GMGIT 2.0, which we want to validate. Method: We have conducted a series of empirical validations at international level based on case studies, whose characteristics and results are presented in this study. Results: The results of this multi-case study show an example of the current situation of organizations in Green IT, as well as the resolution of problems encountered during the validations conducted with the GMGIT 1.0. Conclusion: The findings obtained demonstrate the usefulness, applicability, and validity of the framework when implementing, auditing, and improving Green IT in organizations in a systematic and progressive manner.
|
|
| 7. |
- Paton-Romero, J. David, et al.
(författare)
-
State of Gender Equality in and by Artificial Intelligence
- 2022
-
Ingår i: IADIS International Journal on Computer Science and Information Systems. - : IADIS. - 1646-3692. ; 17:2, s. 31-48
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- When talking about sustainability, we usually think that it is only about safeguarding the environment; nothing is further from reality. Of course, the environment is a crucial component of sustainability and our survival, but it is important to recall that the society and the economy play important roles in this regard, and without the interconnection and development of these three perspectives it will not be possible to achieve sustainable progress. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations (UN) defend this idea and address the main challenges that humanity faces. One of these challenges is gender equality, which is identified in the perspective of social sustainability through SDG 5. Gender equality is a very complex and difficult challenge to address due to the great cultural diversity of our society. Thus, achieving this goal will require laying a solid foundation and working together by combining very different fields of knowledge. In this sense, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the fields that is currently having the greatest impact and relevance for the development of new technologies and for the advancement of numerous areas. This growing evolution of AI demonstrates that its repercussions at the social level must be analyzed and addressed in such a way that AI becomes a positive asset for sustainability and, in this particular case, for gender equality.For all these reasons, this study aims to analyze the current state of the art and collect the existing knowledge in the fields of AI and gender equality, by conducting a Systematic Mapping Study (SMS). The obtained results and findings have allowed us to identify the most relevant advances in this regard, as well as the gaps and drawbacks that currently exist and on which we must urgently focus to address gender equality both in and by AI. In the same way, these findings demonstrate the limited joint development of both fields, but also indicate an increase in the relevance and the number of proposals that these fields are receiving in recent years.
|
|
| 8. |
- Romano, Simone, et al.
(författare)
-
On researcher bias in Software Engineering experiments
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Journal of Systems and Software. - : Elsevier Inc.. - 0164-1212 .- 1873-1228. ; 182
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Researcher bias occurs when researchers influence the results of an empirical study based on their expectations, either consciously or unconsciously. Researcher bias might be due to the use of Questionable Research Practices (QRPs). In research fields like medicine, blinding techniques have been applied to counteract researcher bias. In this paper, we present two studies to increase our body of knowledge on researcher bias in Software Engineering (SE) experiments, including: (i) QRPs potentially leading to researcher bias; (ii) causes behind researcher bias; and (iii) possible actions to counteract researcher bias with a focus on, but not limited to, blinding techniques. The former is an interview study, intended as an exploratory study, with nine experts of the empirical SE community. The latter is a quantitative survey with 51 respondents, who were experts of the above-mentioned community. The findings from the exploratory study represented the starting point to design the survey. In particular, we defined the questionnaire of this survey to support the findings from the exploratory study. From the interview study, it emerged that some QRPs (e.g., post-hoc outlier criteria) are acceptable in certain cases. Also, it appears that researcher bias is perceived in SE and, to counteract researcher bias, a number of solutions have been highlighted. For example, duplicating the data analysis in SE experiments or fostering open data policies in SE conferences/journals. The findings from the interview study are mostly confirmed by those from the survey, and allowed us to delineate recommendations to counteract researcher bias in SE experiments. Some recommendations are intended for SE researchers, while others are purposeful for the boards of SE research venues. © 2021 Elsevier Inc.
|
|
| 9. |
- Romano, Simone, et al.
(författare)
-
On the Effect of Noise on Software Engineers' Performance : Results from Two Replicated Experiments
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Proceedings - 46th Euromicro Conference on Software Engineering and Advanced Applications, SEAA 2020. - : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. - 9781728195322 ; , s. 334-341
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Noise, defined as an unwanted sound, is one of the most common factors people have to deal with when performing their daily working tasks. Researchers have marginally investigated the effect of noise on software engineers' performance. In this paper, we present the results of two replicated experiments whose main goal was to increase the body of knowledge, by confirming or not the results of the baseline experiments, on the effect of noise while comprehending functional requirements specifications and fixing faults in source code. The results of the replicated experiments suggest that: (i) noise does not significantly affect the comprehension of functional requirements specifications and (ii) noise significantly and negatively affects fixing faults if this task lasts 30 minutes, while it does not have a significant impact if the task lasts 60 minutes. The results of the replications confirm to a large extent those of the baseline experiments and allow us to postulate, as done for the baseline experiments, that fixing faults is more vulnerable to noise than comprehending the specifications of functional requirements. © 2020 IEEE.
|
|
| 10. |
- Romano, Simone, et al.
(författare)
-
Researcher Bias in Software Engineering Experiments : A Qualitative Investigation
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Proceedings - 46th Euromicro Conference on Software Engineering and Advanced Applications, SEAA 2020. - : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. - 9781728195322 ; , s. 276-283
-
Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Researcher Bias (RB) occurs when researchers influence the results of an empirical study based on their expectations. RB might be due to the use of Questionable Research Practices (QRPs). In research fields like medicine, blinding techniques have been applied to counteract RB. We conducted an explorative qualitative survey to investigate RB in Software Engineering (SE) experiments, with respect to: (i) QRPs potentially leading to RB, (ii) causes behind RB, and (iii) possible actions to counteract RB including blinding techniques. Data collection was based on semi-structured interviews. We interviewed nine active experts in the empirical SE community. We then analyzed the transcripts of these interviews through thematic analysis. We found that some QRPs are acceptable in certain cases. Also, it appears that the presence of RB is perceived in SE and, to counteract RB, a number of solutions have been highlighted: some are intended for SE researchers and others for the boards of SE research outlets. © 2020 IEEE.
|
|
