Perspective of Software Engineering Researchers on Machine Learning Practices Regarding Research, Review, and Education

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Main Authors: Mojica-Hanke, Anamaria, Palacio, David Nader, Poshyvanyk, Denys, Linares-Vásquez, Mario, Herbold, Steffen
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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author Mojica-Hanke, Anamaria
Palacio, David Nader
Poshyvanyk, Denys
Linares-Vásquez, Mario
Herbold, Steffen
author_facet Mojica-Hanke, Anamaria
Palacio, David Nader
Poshyvanyk, Denys
Linares-Vásquez, Mario
Herbold, Steffen
contents Context: Machine Learning (ML) significantly impacts Software Engineering (SE), but studies mainly focus on practitioners, neglecting researchers. This overlooks practices and challenges in teaching, researching, or reviewing ML applications in SE. Objective: This study aims to contribute to the knowledge, about the synergy between ML and SE from the perspective of SE researchers, by providing insights into the practices followed when researching, teaching, and reviewing SE studies that apply ML. Method: We analyzed SE researchers familiar with ML or who authored SE articles using ML, along with the articles themselves. We examined practices, SE tasks addressed with ML, challenges faced, and reviewers' and educators' perspectives using grounded theory coding and qualitative analysis. Results: We found diverse practices focusing on data collection, model training, and evaluation. Some recommended practices (e.g., hyperparameter tuning) appeared in less than 20\% of literature. Common challenges involve data handling, model evaluation (incl. non-functional properties), and involving human expertise in evaluation. Hands-on activities are common in education, though traditional methods persist. Conclusion: Despite accepted practices in applying ML to SE, significant gaps remain. By enhancing guidelines, adopting diverse teaching methods, and emphasizing underrepresented practices, the SE community can bridge these gaps and advance the field.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2411_19304
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Perspective of Software Engineering Researchers on Machine Learning Practices Regarding Research, Review, and Education
Mojica-Hanke, Anamaria
Palacio, David Nader
Poshyvanyk, Denys
Linares-Vásquez, Mario
Herbold, Steffen
Software Engineering
Machine Learning
Context: Machine Learning (ML) significantly impacts Software Engineering (SE), but studies mainly focus on practitioners, neglecting researchers. This overlooks practices and challenges in teaching, researching, or reviewing ML applications in SE. Objective: This study aims to contribute to the knowledge, about the synergy between ML and SE from the perspective of SE researchers, by providing insights into the practices followed when researching, teaching, and reviewing SE studies that apply ML. Method: We analyzed SE researchers familiar with ML or who authored SE articles using ML, along with the articles themselves. We examined practices, SE tasks addressed with ML, challenges faced, and reviewers' and educators' perspectives using grounded theory coding and qualitative analysis. Results: We found diverse practices focusing on data collection, model training, and evaluation. Some recommended practices (e.g., hyperparameter tuning) appeared in less than 20\% of literature. Common challenges involve data handling, model evaluation (incl. non-functional properties), and involving human expertise in evaluation. Hands-on activities are common in education, though traditional methods persist. Conclusion: Despite accepted practices in applying ML to SE, significant gaps remain. By enhancing guidelines, adopting diverse teaching methods, and emphasizing underrepresented practices, the SE community can bridge these gaps and advance the field.
title Perspective of Software Engineering Researchers on Machine Learning Practices Regarding Research, Review, and Education
topic Software Engineering
Machine Learning
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.19304