The Affect of Software Developers: Common Misconceptions and Measurements

TL;DR

This paper reviews misconceptions about affects in software developers, discusses validated measurement tools, and offers recommendations for accurately assessing emotions and moods in software engineering contexts.

Contribution

It clarifies common misconceptions, provides validated measurement instruments, and offers guidelines for measuring affects in software developers, an area previously underexplored.

Findings

Identifies common misconceptions about affects in software development.

Provides validated instruments for affect measurement.

Offers recommendations for accurate affect assessment.

Abstract

The study of affects (i.e., emotions, moods) in the workplace has received a lot of attention in the last 15 years. Despite the fact that software development has been shown to be intellectual, creative, and driven by cognitive activities, and that affects have a deep influence on cognitive activities, software engineering research lacks an understanding of the affects of software developers. This note provides (1) common misconceptions of affects when dealing with job satisfaction, motivation, commitment, well-being, and happiness; (2) validated measurement instruments for affect measurement; and (3) our recommendations when measuring the affects of software developers.