Evidence-based Software Engineering Guidelines Revisited

Pfleeger, Shari Lawrence; Kitchenham, Barbara

Abstract

In 2002, the authors and their colleagues proposed some preliminary guidelines for empirical software engineering research. In this paper, we revisit them. We believe that for the purpose of supporting the development of project-based bespoke software, they still perform reasonably well. However, the worlds of software and software engineering have changed dramatically in the last 25 years. We suggest that new guidelines are needed to respond to changes in software practices, including the possibility of regulation of AI-based software products, and propose the scope of such guidelines.

Citation

Pfleeger, S. L., & Kitchenham, B. (2025). Evidence-based Software Engineering Guidelines Revisited. IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering, 51(3), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1109/tse.2025.3526730

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 24, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jan 8, 2025
• Publication Date: Mar 17, 2025
• Deposit Date: Apr 16, 2025
• Journal: IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering
• Print ISSN: 0098-5589
• Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 51
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 1-6
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/tse.2025.3526730
• Keywords: empirical software engineering , guidelines , software product faults , AI risks
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/1051608
• Publisher URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10834515