FSE 2025
Mon 23 - Fri 27 June 2025 Trondheim, Norway
Wed 25 Jun 2025 15:20 - 15:30 at Cosmos 3C - Empirical Studies 2 Chair(s): Yuchao Jiang

Researchers in Software Engineering (SE) frequently use program analysis tools (or simply tools) as part of their experiments. These tools can be used to measure software attributes (response/dependent variables) or as part of an intervention (treatment/independent variable). But what happens when researchers use the same tool both as a measurement instrument and as part of an intervention? They might be dealing with a threat to construct validity: the treatment-sensitive factorial structure bias. Accordingly, the participants receiving the intervention might experience what is being evaluated in the experiment differently from the other participants. This means that the results of the study might favor one group of participants over others based on their exposure to the intervention (which involved the tool used to make measurements). In this paper, we present a reflection-based analysis of the treatment-sensitive factorial structure bias. We share suggestions on how to mitigate this threat in SE studies (e.g., experiments or cohort studies). We advise researchers to use measurement instruments not associated with the treatment. In case this is not possible, the association between the measurement instrument and the treatment should be as small as possible. Also, choosing a proper version and/or configuration of the measurement instrument might mitigate the treatment-sensitive factorial structure bias.

Wed 25 Jun

Displayed time zone: Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna change

14:00 - 15:30
14:00
20m
Talk
An Empirical Analysis of Issue Templates Usage in Large-Scale Projects on GitHub
Journal First
Emre Sülün Bilkent University, Metehan Saçakcı Bilkent University, Eray Tüzün Bilkent University
14:20
20m
Talk
The Landscape of Toxicity: An Empirical Investigation of Toxicity on GitHub
Research Papers
Jaydeb Sarker University of Nebraska at Omaha, Asif Kamal Turzo Wayne State University, Amiangshu Bosu Wayne State University
DOI Pre-print
14:40
20m
Talk
Expressing and Checking Statistical Assumptions
Research Papers
Alexi Turcotte CISPA, Zheyuan Wu Saarland University
DOI
15:00
20m
Talk
Why the Proof Fails in Different Versions of Theorem Provers: An Empirical Study of Compatibility Issues in Isabelle
Research Papers
Xiaokun Luan Peking University, David Sanan Singapore Institute of Technology, Zhe Hou Griffith University, Qiyuan Xu Nanyang Technological University, Chengwei Liu Nanyang Technological University, Yufan Cai National University of Singapore, Yang Liu Nanyang Technological University, Meng Sun Peking University
DOI
15:20
10m
Talk
Missing Threats: Dealing with the Treatment-sensitive Factorial Structure Bias in Empirical Software Engineering
Ideas, Visions and Reflections
Sabato Nocera University of Salerno, Giuseppe Scanniello University of Salerno

Information for Participants
Wed 25 Jun 2025 14:00 - 15:30 at Cosmos 3C - Empirical Studies 2 Chair(s): Yuchao Jiang
Info for room Cosmos 3C:

Cosmos 3C is the third room in the Cosmos 3 wing.

When facing the main Cosmos Hall, access to the Cosmos 3 wing is on the left, close to the stairs. The area is accessed through a large door with the number “3”, which will stay open during the event.