Preliminary guidelines for empirical research in software engineering
Kitchenham, B.A.
Pfleeger, S.L.
Pickard, L.M.
Jones, P.W.
Hoaglin, D.C.
El Emam, K.
Rosenberg, J.
Dept. of Comput. Sci., Keele Univ.;
This paper appears in: Software Engineering, IEEE Transactions on
Publication Date: Aug 2002
Volume: 28,
Issue: 8
On page(s): 721- 734
ISSN: 0098-5589
INSPEC Accession Number: 7357510
Digital Object Identifier: 10.1109/TSE.2002.1027796
Current Version Published: 2002-11-07
Abstract
Empirical software engineering research needs research guidelines to improve the research and reporting processes. We propose a preliminary set of research guidelines aimed at stimulating discussion among software researchers. They are based on a review of research guidelines developed for medical researchers and on our own experience in doing and reviewing software engineering research. The guidelines are intended to assist researchers, reviewers, and meta-analysts in designing, conducting, and evaluating empirical studies. Editorial boards of software engineering journals may wish to use our recommendations as a basis for developing guidelines for reviewers and for framing policies for dealing with the design, data collection, and analysis and reporting of empirical studies.
Index
Terms
Available to subscribers and IEEE members.
References
Available to subscribers and IEEE members.
Citing Documents
Available to subscribers and IEEE members.
Cart
