Applied Research
For me, solving Developer Experience problems involves:
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asking specific, targeted questions,
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using rigorous research methods to answer those questions,
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drawing on research findings to implement evidence-based interventions
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You can read more about my research process on the Services page.
Below, you'll find examples of actual research projects that I've worked on.
Code Review Anxiety Intervention & Workbook
Download and read the research at PsyArXiv Preprints
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​In Spring of 2024, I collaborated with Dr. Carol Lee and Dr. Catherine Hicks to analyze qualitative data from an intervention meant to help software engineers manage their anxiety around code reviews.
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Once the data were analyzed and we had evidence for the effectiveness of the intervention, I led the creation of the Code Review Anxiety Workbook, an adaptation of the intervention administered in the study. The workbook is designed to be used by individuals or teams.
AI Skill Threat Research & Toolkit
Download and read the research at PsyArXiv Preprints
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​In Fall of 2023, I collaborated with Dr. Catherine Hicks and Dr. Carol Lee to examine how the introduction of AI impacts software developers’ role-related identities. This quantitative observational study draws on sociocognitive theories of identity threat and field-specific ability beliefs, and contributes a new construct for the empirical study of AI in software development: AI Skill Threat, which refers to the threat to technical identity experienced by developers when imagining AI in software development.
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Following the analysis of data, I led the creation of the Generative AI Adoption Toolkit, which was designed to help technology leaders facilitate their team's adoption of AI-assisted coding tools and practices in a human-centered and evidence-based way. The components of this toolkit represent adaptations of well-known software ceremonies: post-mortems and hackathons. Learning, belonging, collaboration, and community are already built into these long-practiced ceremonies.