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Happy software developers solve problems better: psychological measurements in empirical software engineering.

Daniel Graziotin1, Xiaofeng Wang1, Pekka Abrahamsson1

  • 1Faculty of Computer Science, Free University of Bozen-Bolzano , Bolzano , Italy.

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Summary

Happy software developers are better analytical problem solvers. This study investigated the link between developers' emotional states, creativity, and problem-solving skills, confirming that positive affect enhances cognitive performance in software engineering.

Keywords:
AffectAffective stateAnalytical problem-solvingCreativityEmotionFeelingHuman aspectsHuman factorsMoodSoftware development

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Area of Science:

  • Software Engineering
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

  • The long-standing claim that developer happiness improves software quality and productivity lacks empirical verification in software engineering research.
  • Software development is an intellectual activity heavily influenced by human factors, requiring strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills.
  • Psychological research indicates that affective states (emotions and moods) significantly impact cognitive abilities, including creativity and problem-solving.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between affective states, creativity, and analytical problem-solving skills in software developers.
  • To address the gap in software engineering research regarding the influence of human factors on developer performance.
  • To validate psychological measurement tools within the context of empirical software engineering.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted a study with 42 software developer participants.
  • Employed psychological measurements to assess affective states, creativity, and analytical problem-solving skills.
  • Analyzed the correlation between participants' emotional states and their performance on cognitive tasks.

Main Results:

  • The study found a positive correlation between positive affective states and enhanced analytical problem-solving abilities in software developers.
  • Results support the hypothesis that 'happy developers are better problem solvers'.
  • Demonstrated the impact of affective states on creativity and analytical problem-solving capacities.

Conclusions:

  • Affective states play a crucial role in the cognitive performance of software developers.
  • The study highlights the need for a multidisciplinary approach, integrating psychological insights into software engineering research.
  • Emphasizes the importance of considering human factors and developer well-being for improving software development outcomes.