Qualitative Research Methods in Software Engineering: Past, Present, and Future
Carolyn Seaman, Rashina Hoda, Robert Feldt
TL;DR
The paper reflects on the evolution of qualitative methods in empirical software engineering since the 1999 Seaman paper, using interviews to capture past challenges, current practices, and future directions. It highlights the emergence of the CHASE community, the rise of qualitative work in agile and distributed contexts, and the importance of cross-disciplinary guidance and methodological reflexivity. Key contributions include a synthesis of historical barriers, a roadmap of best practices, and a set of actionable recommendations for researchers, editors, and organizers to broaden methodological diversity and impact. The work also engages with ethical considerations and the potential of AI-enabled tools, urging careful, rigorous integration to enhance rather than erode research validity and relevance.
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.