Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria in Software Engineering Tertiary Studies: A Systematic Mapping and Emerging Framework

TL;DR

This paper systematically reviews how inclusion and exclusion criteria are defined and used in software engineering tertiary studies, and proposes a new framework to guide researchers in establishing rigorous criteria.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of current practices and introduces the TSICEC framework to standardize IC/EC application in TS@SE.

Findings

Identified diverse practices in defining IC/EC in TS@SE.

Developed the TSICEC framework with guidelines for IC/EC.

Enhanced methodological rigor in systematic mapping studies.

Abstract

Context: Tertiary studies in software engineering (TS@SE) are widely used to synthesise evidence on a research topic systematically. As part of their protocol, TS@SE define inclusion and exclusion criteria (IC/EC) aimed at selecting those secondary studies (SS) to be included in the analysis. Aims: To provide a state of the art on the definition and application of IC/EC in TS@SE, and from the results of this analysis, we outline an emerging framework, TSICEC, to be used by SE researchers. Method: To provide the state of the art, we conducted a systematic mapping (SM) combining automatic search and snowballing over the body of SE scientific literature, which led to 50 papers after application of our own IC/EC. The extracted data was synthesised using content analysis. The results were used to define a first version of TSICEC. Results: The SM resulted in a coding schema, and a thorough analysis of the selected papers on the basis of this coding. Our TSICEC framework includes guidelines for the definition of IC/EC in TS@SE. Conclusion: This paper is a step forward establishing a foundation for researchers in two ways. As authors, understanding the different possibilities to define IC/EC and apply them to select SS. As readers, having an instrument to understand the methodological rigor upon which TS@SE may claim their findings.