Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Gamified Focus Group for Empirical Research in Software Engineering: A Case Study

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement (EuroSPI 2023)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 1890))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

Focus group discussion is an empirical research method for qualitative studies aimed at eliciting information and perceptions from practitioners. This method is used in software engineering to validate and generalise research results. However, the time available to conduct the sessions could be improved, more tools are required to achieve the discussion in a structured way, and it is vital to avoid the inhibition of the participants. This study proposes a gamification-based strategy to conduct research in which the focus group method is paramount for validation and overcoming some mentioned limitations. For this purpose, a gamification strategy design method consisted of five phases: planning, design, pilot testing, programming and evaluation. The designed strategy was applied in a focus group of seven professionals to prioritise six non-technical factors required in software development teams within Industry 4.0. Applying the gamified strategy allowed us to capture the feelings of all group members methodically within a limited time window. Therefore, the strategy is a potential structured tool for conducting focus group sessions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Templeton, J.F.: The focus group : a strategic guide to organising, conducting and analysing the focus group interview. McGraw-Hill (1996)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Morgan, D.L.: Focus groups. Annu. Rev. Sociol. 22, 129–152 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.22.1.129

  3. Langford, J., McDonaugh, D.: Focus Groups: Supporting Effective Product Development. Taylor and Francis, London (2003)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  4. Widdows, R., Hensler, T.A., Wyncott, M.H.: The focus group interview: a method for assessing users’ evaluation of library service. Coll. Res. Libr. 52, 352–359 (1991). https://doi.org/10.5860/crl_52_04_352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Maruyama, G., Ryan, C.S.: Research Methods in Social Relations, 8th edn., p. 572 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Rodas Pacheco, F.D., Pacheco Salazar, V.G.: Grupos focales: marco de referencia para su implementación. INNOVA Res. J. 5, 182–195 (2020). https://doi.org/10.33890/innova.v5.n3.2020.1401

  7. Kontio, J., Lehtola, L., Bragge, J.: Using the focus group method in software engineering: obtaining practitioner and user experiences. In: Proceedings. 2004 International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering, ISESE 2004, pp. 271–280 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1109/ISESE.2004.1334914

  8. Bjarnason, E., Gislason Bern, B., Svedberg, L.: Inter-Team Communication in Large-Scale Co-located Software Engineering: A Case Study. Springer, US (2022)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  9. Kriglstein, S., Leitner, M., Kabicher-Fuchs, S., Rinderle-Ma, S.: Evaluation methods in process-aware information systems research with a perspective on human orientation. Bus. Inf. Syst. Eng. 58(6), 397–414 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12599-016-0427-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. García, F., Pedreira, O., Piattini, M., Cerdeira-Pena, A., Penabad, M.: A framework for gamification in software engineering. J. Syst. Softw. 132, 21–40 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2017.06.021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Wagner, S., Ruhe, M.: A systematic review of productivity factors in software development. In: 2nd International Workshop on Software Productivity Analysis and Cost Estimation (SPACE 2008) (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Trendowicz, A., Münch, J.: Chapter 6 Factors influencing software development productivity-state-of-the-art and industrial experiences. In: Advances in Computers, pp. 185–241 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Prechelt, L.: The Mythical 10x programmer. In: Sadowski, C., Zimmermann, T. (eds.) Rethinking Productivity in Software Engineering, pp. 3–11. Apress, Berkeley, CA (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-4221-6_1

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  14. Canedo, E.D., Santos, G.A.: Factors affecting software development productivity: an empirical study. In: ACM International Conference Proceeding Series, pp. 307–316. Association for Computing Machinery (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Capretz, L.F., Ahmed, F., da Silva, F.Q.B.: Soft sides of software. Inf. Softw. Technol. 92, 92–94 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2017.07.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. World_Economic_Forum: The Future of Jobs Report (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Spiezia, V.: Jobs and skills in the digital economy (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Infosys: Talent Radar How the best companies get the skills they need to thrive in the digital era. (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Manifesto: Software Process Improvement (SPI). https://conference.eurospi.net/images/eurospi/spi_manifesto.pdf

  20. Pressman, R.: Ingeniería del Software: Un Enfoque Práctico. Mc Graw Hill (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kirilo, C.Z., et al.: Organisational climate assessment using the paraconsistent decision method. Procedia Comput. Sci. 131, 608–618 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2018.04.303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Wohlin, C., Höst, M., Henningsson, K.: Empirical research methods in software engineering. In: Conradi, R., Wang, A.I. (eds.) Empirical Methods and Studies in Software Engineering. LNCS, vol. 2765, pp. 7–23. Springer, Heidelberg (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-45143-3_2

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  23. Denzin, N.K., Lincoln, Y.S.: Handbook of (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Monje Álvarez, C.A.: Metodología de la investigación cuantitativa y cualitativa. Guía didáctica (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Jbara, A., Bibliowicz, A., Wengrowicz, N., Levi, N., Dori, D.: Toward integrating systems engineering with software engineering through Object-Process Programming. Int. J. Inf. Technol. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41870-020-00488-8

  26. Junior, I.deF., Marczak, S., Santos, R., Rodrigues, C., Moura, H.: C2M: a maturity model for the evaluation of communication in distributed software development. Empir. Softw. Eng. 27 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10664-022-10211-9

  27. Falessi, D., et al.: Empirical software engineering experts on the use of students and professionals in experiments. Empir. Softw. Eng. 23(1), 452–489 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10664-017-9523-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Alami, A., Krancher, O.: How Scrum adds value to achieving software quality? Empir. Softw. Eng. 27 (2022)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Assyne, N., Ghanbari, H., Pulkkinen, M.: The essential competencies of software professionals: a unified competence framework. Inf. Softw. Technol. 151, 107020 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2022.107020

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Luke, M., Goodrich, K.M.: Focus group research: an intentional strategy for applied group research? J. Spec. Gr. Work. 44, 77–81 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1080/01933922.2019.1603741

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Kontio, J., Bragge, J., Lehtola, L., Wohlin, C., Höst, M., Henningsson, K.: The focus group method as an empirical tool in software engineering. Guid. to Adv. Empir. Softw. Eng. 2765, 93–116 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84800-044-5_4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Dingsøyr, T., Lindsjørn, Y.: Team performance in agile development teams: findings from 18 focus groups. In: Baumeister, H., Weber, B. (eds.) XP 2013. LNBIP, vol. 149, pp. 46–60. Springer, Heidelberg (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-38314-4_4

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  33. Franz, N.K.: The unfocused focus group: Benefit or bane? Qual. Rep. 16, 1380–1388 (2011). https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2011.1304

  34. Pedreira, O., García, F., Brisaboa, N., Piattini, M.: Gamification in software engineering - a systematic mapping. Inf. Softw. Technol. 57, 157–168 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2014.08.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Muñoz, M., Hernández, L., Mejia, J., Gasca-Hurtado, G. P., Gómez-Alvarez, M. C.: State of the use of gamification elements in software development teams. In: Stolfa, J., Stolfa, S., O’Connor, R. V., Messnarz, R. (eds.) EuroSPI 2017. CCIS, vol. 748, pp. 249–258. Springer, Cham (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64218-5_20

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  36. Oprescu, F., Jones, C., Katsikitis, M.: I PLAY AT WORK-ten principles for transforming work processes through gamification. Front. Psychol. 5, 1–5 (2014). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Mounir, M., Badr, K., Sameh, S.: Gamification framework in automotive SW development environment to increase teams engagement. In: Yilmaz, M., Clarke, P., Messnarz, R., Reiner, M. (eds.) EuroSPI 2021. CCIS, vol. 1442, pp. 278–288. Springer, Cham (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-85521-5_18

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  38. Alsawaier, R.S.: The effect of gamification on motivation and engagement. Int. J. Inf. Learn. Technol. 35, 56–79 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1108/IJILT-02-2017-0009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Gomez-Alvarez, M.C., Gasca-Hurtado, G.P., Manrique-Losada, B., Arias, D.M.: Method of pedagogic instruments design for software engineering. In: 11th Iberian Conference on Information Systems and Technologies (CISTI) (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Gasca-Hurtado, G.P., Gómez-Álvarez, M.C., Manrique-Losada, B.: Using gamification in software engineering teaching: study case for software design. In: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Hamui-Sutton, A., Varela-Ruiz, M.: La técnica de grupos focales. Investig. en Educ. Médica. 2, 55–60 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1016/s2007-5057(13)72683-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Mahnič, V., Hovelja, T.: On using planning poker for estimating user stories. J. Syst. Softw. 85, 2086–2095 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JSS.2012.04.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Sharma, B., Purohit, R.: Review of current software estimation techniques. In: Panda, B., Sharma, S., Roy, N.R. (eds.) REDSET 2017. CCIS, vol. 799, pp. 380–399. Springer, Singapore (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8527-7_32

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  44. Werbach, K., Hunter, D.: The Gamification Toolkit - Dynamics, Mechanics, and Components for the Win (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  45. Martakis, A., Daneva, M.: Handling requirements dependencies in agile projects: a focus group with agile software development practitioners. In: Proceedings - International Conference on Research Challenges in Information Science (2013). https://doi.org/10.1109/RCIS.2013.6577679

  46. Mendoza-Moreno, M., González-Serrano, C., Pino, F.J.: Focus group como proceso en ingeniería de software: una experiencia desde la práctica focus group as a software engineering process: an experience from the praxis. Dyna. 80, 51–60 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad de Medellín, Carrera 87 No. 30-65, 50026, Medellín, Colombia

    Luz Marcela Restrepo-Tamayo & Gloria Piedad Gasca-Hurtado

Authors
  1. Luz Marcela Restrepo-Tamayo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gloria Piedad Gasca-Hurtado
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luz Marcela Restrepo-Tamayo .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Gazi University, Ankara, Türkiye

    Murat Yilmaz

  2. Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

    Paul Clarke

  3. Grenoble Alpes University, Grenoble, France

    Andreas Riel

  4. I.S.C.N. GesmbH, Graz, Austria

    Richard Messnarz

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Restrepo-Tamayo, L.M., Gasca-Hurtado, G.P. (2023). Gamified Focus Group for Empirical Research in Software Engineering: A Case Study. In: Yilmaz, M., Clarke, P., Riel, A., Messnarz, R. (eds) Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement. EuroSPI 2023. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1890. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-42307-9_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-42307-9_5

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-42306-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-42307-9

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation