Using Non-Verbal Expressions as a Tool in Naming Research

Omer Regev, Michael Soloveitchik, Dror G. Feitelson

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Variable and function names are extremely important for program comprehension. It is therefore also important to study how developers select names. But controlled experiments on naming are hindered by the need to describe to experimental subjects what it is they need to name. Words appearing in these descriptions may then find their way into the names, leading to a bias in the results. We suggest that this problem can be alleviated by using emojis or other small graphics in lieu of key words in the descriptions. A replication of previous work on naming, this time including such emojis and graphics, indeed led to a more diverse and less biased choice of words in the names than when using English descriptions.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings - 2021 IEEE/ACM 29th International Conference on Program Comprehension, ICPC 2021
PublisherIEEE Computer Society
Pages347-357
Number of pages11
ISBN (Electronic)9781665414036
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2021
Event29th IEEE/ACM International Conference on Program Comprehension, ICPC 2021 - Virtual, Online
Duration: 20 May 202121 May 2021

Publication series

NameIEEE International Conference on Program Comprehension
Volume2021-May

Conference

Conference29th IEEE/ACM International Conference on Program Comprehension, ICPC 2021
CityVirtual, Online
Period20/05/2121/05/21

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 IEEE.

Keywords

  • Variable and function naming
  • accessibility bias
  • experimental methodology

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