Qualitative Research Methods in Software Engineering: Past, Present, and Future

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.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering
Published
2025-02-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1109/tse.2025.3538751
Citations
5
Primary Topic
Software Engineering Techniques and Practices
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
16.23
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Qualitative Research Methods in Software Engineering: Past, Present, and Future

Carolyn Seaman, Rashina Hoda, Robert Feldt
5 citations
IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering
Software Engineering Techniques and Practices
16.23
article

Qualitative Research Methods in Software Engineering: Past, Present, and Future

Carolyn Seaman, Rashina Hoda, Robert Feldt
article en
5 citations

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.

IEEE Transactions on Software EngineeringVol. 51(3)
Monash University (AU), Chalmers University of Technology (SE), University of Maryland, Baltimore County (US)
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Openalex Percentile: Top 1%
Software Engineering Techniques and Practices
16.23
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.