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Personality-based pair programming: toward intrinsic motivation alignment in very small entities.
Marcel Valovy1, Alena Buchalcevova1
1Department of Information Technology, University of Economics Prague, Prague, Czech Republic.
Peerj. Computer Science
|June 26, 2025
Summary
Assigning pair programming roles based on personality boosts intrinsic motivation. This approach enhances developer satisfaction and collaboration in very small entities (VSEs).
Area of Science:
- Software Engineering
- Psychology
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Pair programming is a software development practice where two programmers work together at one workstation.
- Intrinsic motivation is crucial for developer engagement and productivity, especially in resource-constrained environments like very small entities (VSEs).
- Traditional role assignments may not align with individual personality traits, potentially hindering motivation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if personality-based role assignments (Pilot, Navigator, Solo) can enhance intrinsic motivation in pair programming within Very Small Entities (VSEs).
- To develop a framework and process extension for optimizing role assignments based on personality traits.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods approach using three quasi-experimental datasets (n=73) with linear mixed-effects (LME) modeling for quantitative analysis.
- Thematic analysis of 25 interviews to gain socio-psychological insights into developer experiences.
- Correlation analysis between personality traits (Openness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism) and role preferences.
Main Results:
- Significant correlations were found between personality traits and preferred roles: Openness with Pilot, Extraversion & Agreeableness with Navigator, and Neuroticism with Solo.
- Personality-based role assignments led to substantial increases in intrinsic motivation (up to 60-65%).
- Twelve qualitative themes highlighted the impact of mentorship, pairing dynamics, and flow disruptions on motivation.
Conclusions:
- The proposed Role-Optimization Motivation Alignment (ROMA) framework systematically aligns personality traits with roles in small agile teams.
- Personality-driven role optimization shows potential to significantly improve collaboration and developer satisfaction in VSEs.
- Further research is recommended in professional settings and for AI-assisted or distributed pair programming.
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