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The Design Science Paradigm as a Frame for Empirical Software Engineering

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Contemporary Empirical Methods in Software Engineering

Abstract

Software engineering research aims to help improve real-world practice. With the adoption of empirical software engineering research methods, the understanding of real-world needs and validation of solution proposals have evolved. However, the philosophical perspective on what constitutes theoretical knowledge and research contributions in software engineering is less discussed in the community. In this chapter, we use the design science paradigm as a frame for articulating and communicating prescriptive software engineering research contributions. Design science embraces problem conceptualization, solution (or artifact) design, and validation of solution proposals, with recommendations for practice phrased as technological rules. Design science is used in related research areas, particularly information systems and management theory. We elaborate the constructs of design science for software engineering, relate them to different conceptualizations of design science, and provide examples of possible research methods. We outline how the assessment of research contributions, industry–academia communication, and theoretical knowledge building may be supported by the design science paradigm. Finally, we provide examples of software engineering research presented through a design science lens.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lund University, Lund, Sweden

    Per Runeson & Emelie Engström

  2. University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada

    Margaret-Anne Storey

Authors
  1. Per Runeson
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  2. Emelie Engström
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  3. Margaret-Anne Storey
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Per Runeson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Computer Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

    Michael Felderer

  2. Systems Engineering and Computer Science, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Guilherme Horta Travassos

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Runeson, P., Engström, E., Storey, MA. (2020). The Design Science Paradigm as a Frame for Empirical Software Engineering. In: Felderer, M., Travassos, G. (eds) Contemporary Empirical Methods in Software Engineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32489-6_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32489-6_5

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-32488-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-32489-6

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

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