This lab package describes a set of reading techniques in the area of "software reading for construction": how application developers obtain an understanding of a software artifact for use in new system development. These reading techniques focus on the processes developers would engage in when learning and using object-oriented frameworks, a promising method for reuse of code and design.
We used these reading techniques in a study that analyzed student software development projects using both qualitative and quantitative methods to gain insight into what processes occurred during framework usage. The contribution of this study was not to test predefined hypotheses but to generate well-supported hypotheses for further investigation. This lab package contains a brief description of the analysis used in the study, as well as pointers to more complete information.
This page is a work in progress. Any questions, comments, criticisms, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Send mail to the author:
fshull@cs.umd.edu