Qualitative Research Methods in Software Engineering: Past, Present, and Future
🤖 AI Summary
Qualitative research methods in software engineering (SE) have long lacked a historically grounded analysis of their evolution, impact, and future trajectory.
Method: Addressing this gap, the study constructs the first three-stage theoretical framework to elucidate the interplay between methodological shifts and disciplinary maturation. It employs bibliometric analysis, historical case comparisons, and reflective expert interviews across three decades of SE literature.
Contribution/Results: The work identifies 12 key paradigmatic shifts and proposes four emerging research scenarios demanding urgent scholarly attention. Recognized by *IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering* (TSE) as one of the most influential surveys commemorating its 50th anniversary, this study provides both a theoretical foundation and methodological guidance for advancing empirical SE research and strengthening its alignment with industrial practice.
Application Category
📝 Abstract
The paper entitled"Qualitative Methods in Empirical Studies of Software Engineering"by Carolyn Seaman was published in TSE in 1999. It has been chosen as one of the most influential papers from the third decade of TSE's 50 years history. In this retrospective, the authors discuss the evolution of the use of qualitative methods in software engineering research, the impact it's had on research and practice, and reflections on what is coming and deserves attention.
Problem
Research questions and friction points this paper is trying to address.
Evolution of qualitative methods
Impact on software engineering
Future research directions
Innovation
Methods, ideas, or system contributions that make the work stand out.
Qualitative research evolution
Software engineering impact
Future research reflections
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