How Experimentation in Software Engineering has been taught? Survey and Research Agenda

Carlos Danilo Luz, Edson Oliveirajr, Igor F. Steinmacher

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

[Background:] Experimentation in Software Engineering (ESE) has increased in the last several years as a way to provide evidence by using statistical techniques. These techniques contribute to an auditable and reliable body of knowledge towards evolving a given topic. Therefore, teaching ESE becomes an essential task while disseminating and establishing an experimental culture to both academia and industry. [Aims:] In this paper we seek to understand how ESE has been taught including contents, materials used, strategies employed, and evaluation method applied. We also provide a research agenda on the subject. [Method:] We conducted a web-based questionnaire survey with 31 instructors who teach ESE. [Results:] We see several aspects, such as: ESE is mainly taught in an exclusive course; most of the materials used to teach ESE concepts are from third parties and some of them themselves; most people do not use any type of license; the core materials used to define the content of the courses are papers and books; learning management systems are most often used to share materials with students; key learning practices used are active learning, project-based learning, and problem-based learning; and most instructors assess their students with experimental projects and seminars. Based on such results, we provide and discuss a research agenda to improve teaching of ESE. [Conclusions:] This survey provides results towards planning a research agenda to improve teaching of ESE, thus benefiting instructors, researchers, and practitioners.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the ACM International Conference on Evaluation and Assessment in Software Engineering, EASE 2022
PublisherAssociation for Computing Machinery
Pages299-304
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9781450396134
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 13 2022
Externally publishedYes
Event26th ACM International Conference on Evaluation and Assessment in Software Engineering, EASE 2022 - Gothenburg, Sweden
Duration: Jun 13 2022Jun 15 2022

Publication series

NameACM International Conference Proceeding Series

Conference

Conference26th ACM International Conference on Evaluation and Assessment in Software Engineering, EASE 2022
Country/TerritorySweden
CityGothenburg
Period6/13/226/15/22

Keywords

  • Controlled Experiments
  • Experimentation in Software Engineering
  • Research Agenda
  • Survey
  • Teaching

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Software
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition
  • Computer Networks and Communications

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