Software Engineering Podcasts: An Empirical Study of Their Potential as a Research Resource

2026-05-26

AI Summary

This study addresses the lack of systematic understanding regarding the content characteristics of software engineering podcasts and their potential value as a research resource. For the first time, podcasts are treated as a data source in empirical software engineering, employing a mixed-methods approach that combines content analysis with a survey to systematically examine their thematic coverage and assess researchers’ perceptions of their applicability. The work constructs a conceptual framework linking podcast content to research needs, revealing the distribution of key topics and the current level of academic acceptance. Findings demonstrate the feasibility and scholarly value of leveraging podcasts as an emerging resource for software engineering research, offering new avenues for data collection and community insight.

Abstract

Podcasts have become an increasingly popular medium for knowledge sharing within the software engineering (SE) community, offering insights into industry developments and the perspectives of professionals with different backgrounds. As this medium grows, it presents a potentially valuable resource not only for practitioners but also for researchers seeking to understand the evolving field. However, little is known about the actual content of SE podcasts or how they are perceived and used by researchers. This study systematically explores the SE podcast landscape, analyzing its content and surveying researchers to assess how podcasts can serve as a meaningful resource for advancing empirical software engineering research.

Problem

• Software Engineering
• Podcasts
• Research Resource
• Empirical Study
• Knowledge Sharing

Innovation

• software engineering podcasts
• empirical study
• research resource
• knowledge sharing
• content analysis