Pattern Discovery and Validation Using Scientific Research Methods

Riehle D, Harutyunyan N, Barcomb A (2025)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Book chapter / Article in edited volumes

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Lecture Notes in Computer Science Springer Verlag

Publisher: Springer

Edited Volumes: Transactions on Pattern Languages of Programming V

Series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science

City/Town: Berlin / Heidelberg

Book Volume: 14630

Pages Range: 226-253

ISBN: 978-3-662-70809-5

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-70810-1_6

Abstract

Pattern discovery, the process of discovering previously unrecognized patterns, is often performed as an ad-hoc process with little resulting certainty in the quality of the proposed patterns. Pattern validation, the process of validating the accuracy of proposed patterns, remains dominated by the simple heuristic of “the rule of three”. This article shows how to use established scientific research methods for the purpose of pattern discovery and validation. We present a specific approach, called the handbook method, that uses the qualitative survey, action research, and case study research for pattern discovery and evaluation, and we discuss the underlying principle of using scientific methods in general. We evaluate the handbook method using three exploratory studies and demonstrate its usefulness.

Authors with CRIS profile

Dirk Riehle Professur für Open Source Software Nikolay Harutyunyan Professur für Open Source Software

Involved external institutions

University of Calgary CA Canada (CA)

How to cite

APA:

Riehle, D., Harutyunyan, N., & Barcomb, A. (2025). Pattern Discovery and Validation Using Scientific Research Methods. In Eugene Wallingford, Uwe Zdun, Christian Kohls (Eds.), Transactions on Pattern Languages of Programming V. (pp. 226-253). Berlin / Heidelberg: Springer.

MLA:

Riehle, Dirk, Nikolay Harutyunyan, and Ann Barcomb. "Pattern Discovery and Validation Using Scientific Research Methods." Transactions on Pattern Languages of Programming V. Ed. Eugene Wallingford, Uwe Zdun, Christian Kohls, Berlin / Heidelberg: Springer, 2025. 226-253.

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