Considerations and Pitfalls in Controlled Experiments on Code Comprehension

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Understanding program code is a complicated endeavor. As such, myriad different factors can influence the outcome. Investigations of program comprehension, and in particular those using controlled experiments, have to take these factors into account. In order to promote the development and use of sound experimental methodology, we discuss potential problems with regard to the experimental subjects, the code they work on, the tasks they are asked to perform, and the metrics for their performance.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings - 2021 IEEE/ACM 29th International Conference on Program Comprehension, ICPC 2021
PublisherIEEE Computer Society
Pages106-117
Number of pages12
ISBN (Electronic)9781665414036
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2021
Event29th IEEE/ACM International Conference on Program Comprehension, ICPC 2021 - Virtual, Online
Duration: 20 May 202121 May 2021

Publication series

NameIEEE International Conference on Program Comprehension
Volume2021-May

Conference

Conference29th IEEE/ACM International Conference on Program Comprehension, ICPC 2021
CityVirtual, Online
Period20/05/2121/05/21

Keywords

  • Code comprehension
  • experimental methodology

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Hardware and Architecture
  • Software

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Considerations and Pitfalls in Controlled Experiments on Code Comprehension'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this