How good are my search strings? Reflections on using an existing review as a quasi-gold standard

• Autorzy: Tran Huynh Khanh Vi , Börstler Jürgen , bin Ali Nauman , Unterkalmsteiner Michael

Identyfikatory

DOI

10.37190/e-Inf220103

• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Background: Systematic literature studies (SLS) have become a core research methodology in Evidence-based Software Engineering (EBSE). Search completeness, i.e., finding all relevant papers on the topic of interest, has been recognized as one of the most commonly discussed validity issues of SLSs. Aim: This study aims at raising awareness on the issues related to search string construction and on search validation using a quasi-gold standard (QGS). Furthermore, we aim at providing guidelines for search string validation. Method: We use a recently completed tertiary study as a case and complement our findings with the observations from other researchers studying and advancing EBSE. Results: We found that the issue of assessing QGS quality has not seen much attention in the literature, and the validation of automated searches in SLSs could be improved. Hence, we propose to extend the current search validation approach by the additional analysis step of the automated search validation results and provide recommendations for the QGS construction. Conclusion: In this paper, we report on new issues which could affect search completeness in SLSs. Furthermore, the proposed guideline and recommendations could help researchers implement a more reliable search strategy in their SLSs.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

search string construction; automated search validation; quasi-gold standard; systematic literature review; systematic mapping study

• Wydawca: Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Wrocławskiej
• Czasopismo: e-Informatica Software Engineering Journal
• Rocznik: 2022
• Tom: Vol. 16, nr 1
• Strony: art. no. 220103
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 30 poz., rys., tab.

Twórcy

autor

Tran Huynh Khanh Vi

• Department of Software Engineering, SE-37179, Karlskrona, Sweden, Blekinge Institute of Technology

autor

Börstler Jürgen

• Department of Software Engineering, SE-37179, Karlskrona, Sweden, Blekinge Institute of Technology

autor

bin Ali Nauman

• Department of Software Engineering, SE-37179, Karlskrona, Sweden, Blekinge Institute of Technology

autor

Unterkalmsteiner Michael

• Department of Software Engineering, SE-37179, Karlskrona, Sweden, Blekinge Institute of Technology

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