ICSE 2024
Fri 12 - Sun 21 April 2024 Lisbon, Portugal
Wed 17 Apr 2024 11:00 - 11:15 at Glicínia Quartin - Human and Social 1 Chair(s): Grischa Liebel

In software engineering, interruptions during tasks can have significant implications for productivity and well-being. While previous studies have investigated the effect of interruptions on productivity, to the best of our knowledge, no prior work has yet distinguished the effect of different types of interruptions on software engineering activities. This study explores the impact of interruptions on software engineering tasks, analyzing in-person and on-screen interruptions with different levels of urgency and dominance. Participants completed code writing, code comprehension, and code review tasks while experiencing interruptions. We collect physiological data using the Empatica EmbracePlus wristband and self-perceived evaluations through surveys. Results show that on-screen interruptions with high dominance of requester significantly increased time spent on code comprehension. In-person and on-screen interruptions combined significantly affect the time spent on code review, with varied effects based on specific interruption combinations. Both interruption type and task significantly influence stress measures, with code comprehension and review tasks associated with lower stress measures compared to code writing. Interestingly, in-person interruptions have a positive impact on physiological measures, indicating reduced stress measures. However, participants’ self-perceived stress scores do not align with physiological data, with higher stress reported during in-person interruptions despite lower physiological stress measures. These findings emphasize the importance of considering the complex relationship between interruptions, objective measures, and subjective experiences in software development. We discuss insights that we hope can inform interruption management and implications on stress among software engineers.

Wed 17 Apr

Displayed time zone: Lisbon change

11:00 - 12:30
11:00
15m
Talk
Breaking the Flow: A Study of Interruptions During Software Engineering ActivitiesACM SIGSOFT Distinguished Paper Award
Research Track
Yimeng Ma Duke University, Yu Huang Vanderbilt University, Kevin Leach Vanderbilt University
Pre-print
11:15
15m
Talk
Supporting Web-based API Searches in the IDE Using Signatures
Research Track
Nick Bradley University of British Columbia, Thomas Fritz University of Zurich, Reid Holmes University of British Columbia
11:30
15m
Talk
Adopting an Agile Approach for Reflective Learning and Teaching
Software Engineering Education and Training
Eleanor Leist University of East Anglia, Jaejoon Lee University of East Anglia
11:45
15m
Talk
Experiences with Summer Camp Communication via Discord
Software Engineering Education and Training
Makayla Moster Clemson University, Ella Kokinda Clemson Univeristy, D. Matthew Boyer Clemson University, Paige Rodeghero Clemson University
12:00
15m
Talk
With Great Humor Comes Great Developer Engagement
Software Engineering in Society
Deepika Tiwari KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Tim Toady Programming Republic of Perl, Martin Monperrus KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Benoit Baudry KTH
12:15
7m
Talk
Using Accessibility Awareness Interventions to Improve Computing Education
Software Engineering Education and Training
Yang Liu Rochester Institute of Technology, Domenic Mangano RIT, Krishna Neupane Rochester Institute of Technology, Samuel Malachowsky Rochester Institute of Technology, Daniel Krutz Rochester Institute of Technology