Characteristics of empirical software maintenance studies: 1980–1989

Abstract

AbstractThis study examines empirical software maintenance research during the decade of the 1980s and categorizes the research according to placement, origin, and nature of research to determine what has been done in the past. To aid in the investigation, an exhaustive electronic keyword search was made of abstracts found in Computer Database Abstracts and INSPEC's Computer and Control Abstracts. Once candidate articles were identified, their full abstracts were scrutinized to determine whether the entire article should be reviewed. Based on a review of the full articles, summary statistics and research trends were established for software maintenance research published during the decade of the 1980s. The discussion that follows is partially based on an interpretation of the findings by an expert panel of information systems professionals actively working in the software maintenance area or engaged in management activities associated with software maintenance. Conclusions concerning the form and direction of future software maintenance publications are then advanced.