Dialog-based protocol: an empirical research method for cognitive activities in software engineering

This paper proposes dialog-based protocol for the study of the cognitive activities during software development and evolution. The dialog-based protocol, derived from the idea of pair programming, is a significant alternative to the common think-aloud protocol, because it lessens the Hawthorne and placebo effects. Using screen-capturing and voice recording instead of videotaping further reduces the Hawthorne effect. The self-directed learning theory provides an encoding scheme and can be used in analyzing the data. A case study illustrates this new approach.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2005
• Where: ISESE
• Authors: Shaochun Xu, Václav Rajlich
• Keywords: Common Think-aloud Protocol, Dialog-based Protocol, ISESE 2005, Self-directed Learning Theory