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Relevance of Software Engineering Research

We are researchers at Virginia Tech aiming to investigate the relevance of ongoing software engineering-related research. We aim to distribute this survey to understand practitioners' perspectives of different student projects. The survey should take no more than 15-20 minutes to complete. Your responses will remain anonymous and confidential. The below summaries were generated by ChatGPT on students' final reports and papers. You must be at least 18 years or older to participate, and your participation is voluntary---you can choose to stop at any time without any consequences. If you have questions, please contact Dr. Chris Brown at dcbrown@vt.edu.

What is your primary work area (i.e., testing, management, development, research, etc.)?

What is your current role?

What company do you work for?

Years of professional development experience:

Do you have a degree in Computer Science?

Yes

Do you have an advanced (i.e., postgraduate) degree?

Yes

In your opinion, how important are the following pieces of research? Please respond to as many as possible.

	Essential	Worthwhile	Unimportant	Unwise	I don't understand
The paper introduces AskAResearcher, an online platform designed to bridge the gap between software engineering researchers and industry practitioners. It facilitates direct Q/A dialogue, expert blogs, and feedback mechanisms, aiming to align research agendas with practical needs and make academic research more accessible to industry, ultimately driving innovation and collaboration in software engineering.

	Essential	Worthwhile	Unimportant	Unwise	I don't understand
This paper investigates how software engineers adapt their communication styles when interacting with different stakeholders in the development process. Through an audio survey, the study analyzes code-switching behaviors among programmers and explores potential biases and communication strategies based on gender, age, and job roles. Preliminary evidence suggests differences in emotions and tone used when communicating with different groups, highlighting the importance of understanding communication dynamics in software development for enhancing collaboration and project outcomes.

	Essential	Worthwhile	Unimportant	Unwise	I don't understand
This study explores the use of Large Language Models (LLMs) to summarize Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) alerts from tools like Burp Suite and OWASP ZAP. The research indicates that these LLM-generated summaries are clearer and more comprehensible for practitioners, potentially enhancing software security by improving accessibility to security alerts.

	Essential	Worthwhile	Unimportant	Unwise	I don't understand
"ResearchBot" is a tool designed to bridge the gap between academic research and practical programming communities by summarizing scholarly articles and providing concise insights in response to user queries. By leveraging natural language processing techniques, ResearchBot aims to democratize access to academic knowledge for industry professionals, fostering collaboration between academia and industry and driving innovation in software development.

	Essential	Worthwhile	Unimportant	Unwise	I don't understand
This paper introduces AutoBreak, a tool designed to streamline the process of learning how to set breakpoints in Java programming language. Leveraging abstract syntax trees (AST), AutoBreak automatically generates breakpoints, aiming to assist novice programmers in adopting best debugging practices. AutoBreak identifies insertion locations and inserts breakpoints rapidly, potentially aiding in debugging education and enhancing productivity.

	Essential	Worthwhile	Unimportant	Unwise	I don't understand
The paper explores the use of Large Language Models (LLMs) for automated software testing in C#. It introduces a tool to collect software testing code from GitHub repositories, compares the performance of a finetuned LLM model against the original model using Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), and discusses the limitations and future directions for LLM-based automated testing in software engineering.

	Essential	Worthwhile	Unimportant	Unwise	I don't understand
This paper explores the prevalence of dark patterns in software engineering, focusing on Ticketmaster's website as a case study. It identifies user interface elements and design practices that create difficulties for users, highlighting the tension between software engineers and end-users. The study aims to educate users about dark patterns and suggests improvements for software engineers to enhance user experiences and avoid unintentionally creating dark patterns.

	Essential	Worthwhile	Unimportant	Unwise	I don't understand
The paper introduces a system that leverages Large Language Models (LLMs) with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to aid in debugging production failures by incorporating logs and the codebase. Through a pilot study, it shows the potential benefits of this approach, such as saving time in identifying root causes and providing potential fixes, while also highlighting challenges like the reliance on accurate user prompts and the potential unreliability of logs.

	Essential	Worthwhile	Unimportant	Unwise	I don't understand
The paper explores candidates' perspectives on Automated Resume Parsers (ARPs) in tech hiring, focusing on procedural justice and fairness. It reveals candidates' distrust in AI-driven ARPs, their preference for human review, and significant differences in transparency perceptions based on minority backgrounds. The findings advocate for future ARP designs to prioritize human-centered approaches and promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in the tech workforce.

	Essential	Worthwhile	Unimportant	Unwise	I don't understand
The paper explores the reasons why students often avoid using debuggers in programming, citing lack of education in courses, complex user interfaces, and a preference for simpler methods like print statement debugging. Through a survey of 73 students, the study highlights the barriers hindering debugger usage and suggests implications for improving debugger design and programming education.

	Essential	Worthwhile	Unimportant	Unwise	I don't understand
The paper examines the software engineering methodologies employed by developers working with blockchain technology, highlighting key strategies and practices to enhance the efficiency and reliability of blockchain-based systems.

	Essential	Worthwhile	Unimportant	Unwise	I don't understand
The paper addresses the challenges in testing augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications due to their immersive nature and the lack of precise expected outcomes. It proposes leveraging Metamorphic Testing (MT), a methodology focusing on the relationship between inputs and outputs, to address these challenges. By identifying Metamorphic Relations (MRs) tailored for AR applications, the study aims to enhance testing frameworks and improve user experiences in mobile AR contexts.

	Essential	Worthwhile	Unimportant	Unwise	I don't understand
The paper investigates the impact and implications of integrating AI assistants in computer science education, offering insights into the methods employed, potential benefits, and perspectives of instructors regarding the integration of AI in educational settings.

	Essential	Worthwhile	Unimportant	Unwise	I don't understand
This study explores the compatibility of security practices with Agile software development methodologies, finding that while most practitioners see security activities as beneficial, they lack confidence in their effectiveness. The research aims to understand the impact of security activities on Agile development processes, offering insights to help teams integrate security practices more effectively.