CS 691

Empirical Software Engineering

Spring 2010

Syllabus

Instructor:      Dr. Jeffrey Carver
Email:            carver@cs.ua.edu
Phone:           (205) 348-9829
Office:           Shelby 2019A
Office hours: TBD

Detailed information about the course will be kept in eLearning. This page will not be updated after the beginning of the semester.

Location/Time

Location: Shelby Hall 2015
Monday/Wednesday 2:00 - 3:15

Description

Three hours lecture.

Catalog Description

This course will cover the basics of Empirical Software Engineering. It will focus on why empirical study in software engineering is necessary. We will discuss methods for conducting various types of studies to provide evidence to support decision making. Finally it will cover the basic concepts involved in designing and running experiments.

Course Goals

Understand the benefits of making Software Engineering decisions based on empirical data
Learn about the different types of metrics and models that exist in the Software Engineering Domain
Learn how to design and run experiments and properly analyze the results

Texts and Readings

Required Textbook

Cozby, P.Methods in Behavorial Research (10th ed). McGraw Hill. 2008.
Additional readings from the literature will be part of homework assignments and classroom discussions. When a paper is assigned for reading prior to class, you will be expected to read the paper and come to class prepared to discuss it.

Non-textbook items will be available electronically through the library and databases like IEEE Xplore. You can download a *.pdf file for such articles.

Exams

There will be one midterm exam. The homework throughout the course will also serve as periodic evaluation tools.
No Final exam

Attendance

Attendance at all classes is required. Attendance and tardiness will directly affect Participation grade.

Please notify Dr. Carver of the circumstances for each absence/tardiness by email. Whenever possible, notify him in advance of expected absence/tardiness.

All auditors must be authorized by the Dean and the Registrar per University regulations. Auditors are expected to attend classes and to participate in discussions. Auditors may not turn in assignments or take exams.

Homework

There will be graded homework assignments applying the concepts learned and searching, reading, and analyzing the literature.

The details for each homework assignment will be provided through the eLearning facilities. Homework will be submitted through eLearning.

Each homework assignment is due prior to midnight on the due date, according to the date of the email.

All assignments must be submitted in .doc, .docx or .pdf format.

Term Paper

A term paper will be required in this course. The term paper will be a conference-type paper that will describe and analyze a (possibly hypothetical) empirical study. More details will be provided later.

Experiment

You may participate as subjects in an experiment as part of a homework assignment or in-class exercise to help you better understand what is involved in data collection, measurement, and empirical study.

Grading

The final grade will be determined by the following weights.

20% Midterm Exam
20% Homework
30% Term Paper (Paper and In-class presentations)
20% Paper Presentations (2nd half of semester)
10% Participation

The standard scale for grades will be used, namely the following

A   90--100%
B   80--89%
C   70--79%
D   60--69%
F    0--59%

Late assignments will be penalized; assignments more than one week late will not be accepted, except for excused absences. If necessary, submit an incomplete assignment on-time, promptly discuss the situation with Dr. Carver, and submit a complete assignment later by the agreed date. This strategy will result in a better grade than submitting the entire assignment late without consultation.

Tools

All students must have access to email.

All students must have access to the class web pages.

Professional Conduct

Academic dishonesty has very bad consequences.

Copying ideas, sentences, tables, or figures without citation is plagiarism, a form of academic dishonesty. This is a very serious offense, because you make it appear to be your own work, but in fact, it is not. You must include citations and references when you copy.

Receiving unacknowledged help is considered academic dishonesty. When you receive help, other than from faculty, or course materials, you must include citations and references in your work. For example, if you find a useful web page that was not specified in the assignment, then you must include a citation and reference for it. Similarly, if a discussion with someone is helpful, you should thank them by name in the Acknowledgments section, even if collaboration is not allowed on the assignment. (Their discussion may not be considered "collaboration".) Citations and references are optional for informal discussions.

Giving unacknowledged help is also treated as academic dishonesty.

Classroom Decorum Statement

The Code of Student Conduct requires that students behave in a manner that is conductive to a teaching/learning environment. Students who engage in behavior that is disruptive or obstructive to the teaching/learning environment will be subject to disciplinary sanctions outlined by the Code of Student Conduct. Disruptive/obstructive behavior is not limited to, but may include, the following: physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, stalking, intimidation harassment, hazing, possession of controlled substances, possession of alcoholic beverages.

Out of respect for your fellow classmates, please turn off all cell phones during class