Expertise in software design

Sonnentag S, Niessen C, Volmer J (2006)

Publication Type: Book chapter / Article in edited volumes

Publication year: 2006

Publisher: University Press

Edited Volumes: Cambridge handbook of expertise and expert performance

City/Town: Campbridge

Pages Range: 373-387

URI: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:352-opus-83883

Abstract

In this chapter, we review research evidence on expertise in software design, computer programming, and related tasks. Research in this domain is particularly interesting because it refers both to rather general features and processes associated with expertise (e.g., knowledge representation, problem-solving strategies) and to specific characteristics of high performers in an economically relevant real-world setting. Therefore, in this chapter we draw on literature from various £elds, mainly from cognitive psychology, but also from work and organizational psychology and from the software-design literature within computer science. Our chapter is organized as follows: In the first main section we provide a brief description of the domain and give an overview of tasks in software development. Next, we briefly describe the expertise concept and distinguish between a conceptualization of expertise as years of experience and expertise as high performance. The third main se ction is the core part of this chapter. In this section, we review empirical research on expertise in tasks such as software design, programming, program comprehension, testing, and debugging. Moreover, we describe how expert performers differ from non-experts with respect to knowledge as well as communication and cooperation processes. In the final section, we present directions for future research and discuss some practical implications.

Authors with CRIS profile

Cornelia Niessen Lehrstuhl für Psychologie im Arbeitsleben Judith Volmer Lehrstuhl für Sozialpsychologie mit Schwerpunkt Gender und Diversity

Involved external institutions

Universität Mannheim DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Sonnentag, S., Niessen, C., & Volmer, J. (2006). Expertise in software design. In K. A. Ericsson, N. Charness, P. Feltovich, & R. R. Hoffmann (Eds.), Cambridge handbook of expertise and expert performance. (pp. 373-387). Campbridge: University Press.

MLA:

Sonnentag, Sabine, Cornelia Niessen, and Judith Volmer. "Expertise in software design." Cambridge handbook of expertise and expert performance. Ed. K. A. Ericsson, N. Charness, P. Feltovich, & R. R. Hoffmann, Campbridge: University Press, 2006. 373-387.

BibTeX: Download