# Diversity Awareness in Software Engineering Participant Research

**Authors:** Riya Dutta, Diego Elias Costa, Emad Shihab, Tanja Tajmel  
**arXiv:** [2302.00042](https://arxiv.org/abs/2302.00042)  
**Date:** 2023-01-31  
**Summary page:** https://www.summarizepaper.com/en/arxiv-id/2302.00042v1/

## Key points

- Diversity and inclusion are crucial for driving technological innovation in software engineering (SE)
- A study analyzed 79 research papers with 105 participant studies from ICSE technical tracks
- 12 different diversity categories were identified in SE participant studies
- There was a tendency to emphasize professional diversity over social diversity data
- Participant diversity was rarely analyzed or reflected upon when discussing study results
- The authors proposed a diversity awareness model and guidelines for SE researchers
- The study aims to contribute to addressing the ongoing crisis of diversity and inclusion in SE
- Importance of considering diverse perspectives and experiences within SE research
- Incorporating attention to participant diversity can ensure more inclusive and impactful technological advancements.

## Summary

In the field of software engineering (SE), diversity and inclusion are crucial for driving technological innovation that benefits society as a whole. To address this, a study was conducted to explore how diversity is embedded in SE research, specifically in participant studies. The researchers analyzed 79 research papers containing 105 participant studies from three years of ICSE technical tracks. Using a content analytical approach, they examined how SE researchers reported the diversity categories of their study participants and investigated the extent to which participants were described, the commonly reported diversity categories, and the function diversity served in these studies. The study identified 12 different diversity categories reported in SE participant studies. The results revealed that while most SE studies reported on the diversity of participants, there was a tendency to emphasize professional diversity data such as occupation and work experience over social diversity data like gender or location. Additionally, the analysis showed that participant diversity was rarely analyzed or reflected upon when discussing study results, outcomes, or limitations. To help researchers enhance their awareness of study diversity, the authors proposed a diversity awareness model and guidelines that SE researchers can apply to their own research. By shedding light on this issue, the study aims to contribute to addressing the ongoing crisis of diversity and inclusion in software engineering. Overall,this research highlights the importance of considering not only demographic representation but also diverse perspectives and experiences within SE research.By incorporating greater attention to participant diversity and its implications throughout all stages of research, software engineers can ensure more inclusive and impactful technological advancements for society.