# How software engineering research aligns with design science: A review

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how applying the design science paradigm can enhance the assessment and communication of software engineering research contributions, emphasizing theoretical and practical relevance.

## Contribution

It demonstrates the usefulness of the design science lens in summarizing and classifying software engineering research contributions, providing a new perspective for evaluation.

## Key findings

- Identified five clusters of research aligned with design science
- The lens emphasizes theoretical contributions and practical relevance
- Reflects on the novelty and rigor of proposed rules

## Abstract

Background: Assessing and communicating software engineering research can be challenging. Design science is recognized as an appropriate research paradigm for applied research but is seldom referred to in software engineering. Applying the design science lens to software engineering research may improve the assessment and communication of research contributions. Aim: The aim of this study is 1) to understand whether the design science lens helps summarize and assess software engineering research contributions, and 2) to characterize different types of design science contributions in the software engineering literature. Method: In previous research, we developed a visual abstract template, summarizing the core constructs of the design science paradigm. In this study, we use this template in a review of a set of 38 top software engineering publications to extract and analyze their design science contributions. Results: We identified five clusters of papers, classifying them according to their alignment with the design science paradigm. Conclusions: The design science lens helps emphasize the theoretical contribution of research output---in terms of technological rules---and reflect on the practical relevance, novelty, and rigor of the rules proposed by the research.