Empirical software engineering

Empirical software engineering (ESE)^[1] is a subfield of software engineering (SE) research that uses empirical research methods to study and evaluate an SE phenomenon of interest. The phenomenon may refer to software development tools/technology, practices, processes, policies, or other human and organizational aspects.

ESE has roots in experimental software engineering, but as the field has matured the need and acceptance for both quantitative and qualitative research has grown.^[2] Today, common research methods used in ESE for primary and secondary research are the following:^[3]

Primary research (experimentation, case study research, survey research, simulations in particular software Process simulation)
Secondary research methods (Systematic reviews, Systematic mapping studies, rapid reviews, tertiary review)

Teaching empirical software engineering[edit]

Some comprehensive books^[1]^[4] for students, professionals and researchers interested in ESE are available.

Research community[edit]

Journals, conferences, and communities devoted specifically to ESE:

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b Guide to advanced empirical software engineering. New York: Springer. 2008. ISBN 978-1-84800-043-8.
^ Ali, Nauman bin (8 September 2016). "Is effectiveness sufficient to choose an intervention?". Proceedings of the 10th ACM/IEEE International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement. pp. 1–6. doi:10.1145/2961111.2962631. ISBN 9781450344272. S2CID 3208211.
^ Wohlin, Claes; Aurum, Aybüke (December 2015). "Towards a decision-making structure for selecting a research design in empirical software engineering". Empirical Software Engineering. 20 (6): 1427–1455. doi:10.1007/s10664-014-9319-7. S2CID 254463421.
^ Felderer, Michael; Travassos, Guilherme Horta (2020). Contemporary empirical methods in software engineering. Cham, Switzerland. ISBN 978-3-030-32488-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[GuideESE-1] Guide to advanced empirical software engineering. New York: Springer. 2008. ISBN 978-1-84800-043-8.

[2] Ali, Nauman bin (8 September 2016). "Is effectiveness sufficient to choose an intervention?". Proceedings of the 10th ACM/IEEE International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement. pp. 1–6. doi:10.1145/2961111.2962631. ISBN 9781450344272. S2CID 3208211.

[3] Wohlin, Claes; Aurum, Aybüke (December 2015). "Towards a decision-making structure for selecting a research design in empirical software engineering". Empirical Software Engineering. 20 (6): 1427–1455. doi:10.1007/s10664-014-9319-7. S2CID 254463421.

[ContempESE-4] Felderer, Michael; Travassos, Guilherme Horta (2020). Contemporary empirical methods in software engineering. Cham, Switzerland. ISBN 978-3-030-32488-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

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