Using Non-Verbal Expressions as a Tool in Naming Research
This addresses a methodological issue for researchers studying program naming, but it is incremental as it replicates previous work with a new tool.
The paper tackled the problem of bias in naming research due to descriptive words influencing name choices by using emojis or graphics in descriptions, resulting in more diverse and less biased word choices in names.
Variable and function names are extremely important for program comprehension. It is therefore also important to study how developers select names. But controlled experiments on naming are hindered by the need to describe to experimental subjects what it is they need to name. Words appearing in these descriptions may then find their way into the names, leading to a bias in the results. We suggest that this problem can be alleviated by using emojis or other small graphics in lieu of key words in the descriptions. A replication of previous work on naming, this time including such emojis and graphics, indeed led to a more diverse and less biased choice of words in the names than when using English descriptions.