TY - JOUR
T1 - Inclusion of individuals with autism spectrum disorder in Software Engineering
AU - Márquez, Gastón
AU - Pacheco, Michelle
AU - Astudillo, Hernán
AU - Taramasco, Carla
AU - Calvo, Esteban
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2024/6
Y1 - 2024/6
N2 - Context: Software Engineering is dedicated to the systematic and efficient development of software, which necessitates the active participation of all team members and a recognition of their unique skills and abilities, including those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The inclusion of individuals with ASD presents new perspectives, yet there is a lack of systematic evidence regarding the primary obstacles and potential benefits associated with their inclusion. Objective: This paper aims to identify, characterize, and describe barriers, facilitators, and methodological proposals described by the community to include individuals with ASD in the discipline of Software Engineering. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive systematic multivocal mapping study to evaluate the existing evidence on the inclusion of individuals with ASD in Software Engineering. Results: We obtained 34 primary studies from which we identified the main facilitators of motivation to learn new skills, attention to detail, and the ability to report and visualize patterns. In contrast, the main barriers detected were communication, a lack of neurodivergent computational thinking, and sensory integration. Additionally, we identified and classified four categories of proposals that allowed the inclusion of individuals with ASD: (i) using virtual reality, (ii) creating more inclusive workspaces, (iii) encouraging neurodivergent computational thinking, and (iv) improving social skills. Conclusions: This study identifies the principal elements that ought to be taken into consideration when allocating tasks and roles to individuals with ASD in software development.
AB - Context: Software Engineering is dedicated to the systematic and efficient development of software, which necessitates the active participation of all team members and a recognition of their unique skills and abilities, including those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The inclusion of individuals with ASD presents new perspectives, yet there is a lack of systematic evidence regarding the primary obstacles and potential benefits associated with their inclusion. Objective: This paper aims to identify, characterize, and describe barriers, facilitators, and methodological proposals described by the community to include individuals with ASD in the discipline of Software Engineering. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive systematic multivocal mapping study to evaluate the existing evidence on the inclusion of individuals with ASD in Software Engineering. Results: We obtained 34 primary studies from which we identified the main facilitators of motivation to learn new skills, attention to detail, and the ability to report and visualize patterns. In contrast, the main barriers detected were communication, a lack of neurodivergent computational thinking, and sensory integration. Additionally, we identified and classified four categories of proposals that allowed the inclusion of individuals with ASD: (i) using virtual reality, (ii) creating more inclusive workspaces, (iii) encouraging neurodivergent computational thinking, and (iv) improving social skills. Conclusions: This study identifies the principal elements that ought to be taken into consideration when allocating tasks and roles to individuals with ASD in software development.
KW - Autism spectrum disorders
KW - Software engineering
KW - Systematic multivocal mapping study
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85187180223&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.infsof.2024.107434
DO - 10.1016/j.infsof.2024.107434
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85187180223
SN - 0950-5849
VL - 170
JO - Information and Software Technology
JF - Information and Software Technology
M1 - 107434
ER -