Improvement of novice software developers' understanding about usability: The role of empathy toward users as a case of emotional contagion

Fulvio Lizano; Jan Stage

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-07233-3_20

Improvement of novice software developers' understanding about usability: The role of empathy toward users as a case of emotional contagion

Fulvio Lizano, Jan Stage

Department of Computer Science

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceeding › Article in proceeding › Research › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

There are several obstacles when it comes to integrating Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) activities into software development projects. In particular, a lack of understanding on the part of novice software developers regarding usability is one of the most cited problems related to this integration. Observation of usability evaluation by these developers has been cited in the literature as an alternative to improve their understanding about usability due to the fact that, among other things, this improves the level of empathy with users. In this paper we present the results of a quasi-experiment which explores the origin of this improvement. Our study suggests that the empathy of novice developers towards users could be originated by Emotional Contagion (EC) of these developers. This EC occurs unconsciously in activities where these developers can observe users working with the software. The present research is an initial approximation as to the relation which EC and empathy have in order to improve the novice software developers' understanding of usability.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Number of pages	12
Volume	8510 LNCS
Publisher	Springer
Publication date	1 Jan 2014
Edition	PART 1
Pages	207-218
ISBN (Print)	9783319072326
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07233-3_20
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2014
Event	HCI 2014 International: 16th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction - Creta Maris, Heraklion, Crete, Greece Duration: 22 Jun 2014 → 27 Jun 2014 Conference number: 16

Conference

Conference	HCI 2014 International
Number	16
Location	Creta Maris
Country/Territory	Greece
City	Heraklion, Crete
Period	22/06/2014 → 27/06/2014

Series	Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Number	PART 1
Volume	8510 LNCS
ISSN	0302-9743

Keywords

emotional contagion
empathy towards users
Software development
understanding of usability
usability

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10.1007/978-3-319-07233-3_20

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Lizano, F., & Stage, J. (2014). Improvement of novice software developers' understanding about usability: The role of empathy toward users as a case of emotional contagion. In Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics) (PART 1 ed., Vol. 8510 LNCS, pp. 207-218). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07233-3_20

Lizano, Fulvio ; Stage, Jan. / Improvement of novice software developers' understanding about usability : The role of empathy toward users as a case of emotional contagion. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics). Vol. 8510 LNCS PART 1. ed. Springer, 2014. pp. 207-218 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics); No. PART 1, Vol. 8510 LNCS).

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title = "Improvement of novice software developers' understanding about usability: The role of empathy toward users as a case of emotional contagion",

abstract = "There are several obstacles when it comes to integrating Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) activities into software development projects. In particular, a lack of understanding on the part of novice software developers regarding usability is one of the most cited problems related to this integration. Observation of usability evaluation by these developers has been cited in the literature as an alternative to improve their understanding about usability due to the fact that, among other things, this improves the level of empathy with users. In this paper we present the results of a quasi-experiment which explores the origin of this improvement. Our study suggests that the empathy of novice developers towards users could be originated by Emotional Contagion (EC) of these developers. This EC occurs unconsciously in activities where these developers can observe users working with the software. The present research is an initial approximation as to the relation which EC and empathy have in order to improve the novice software developers' understanding of usability.",

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Lizano, F & Stage, J 2014, Improvement of novice software developers' understanding about usability: The role of empathy toward users as a case of emotional contagion. in Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics). PART 1 edn, vol. 8510 LNCS, Springer, Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics), no. PART 1, vol. 8510 LNCS, pp. 207-218, HCI 2014 International, Heraklion, Crete, Greece, 22/06/2014. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07233-3_20

Improvement of novice software developers' understanding about usability: The role of empathy toward users as a case of emotional contagion. / Lizano, Fulvio; Stage, Jan.
Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics). Vol. 8510 LNCS PART 1. ed. Springer, 2014. p. 207-218 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics); No. PART 1, Vol. 8510 LNCS).

Research output: Contribution to book/anthology/report/conference proceeding › Article in proceeding › Research › peer-review

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AB - There are several obstacles when it comes to integrating Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) activities into software development projects. In particular, a lack of understanding on the part of novice software developers regarding usability is one of the most cited problems related to this integration. Observation of usability evaluation by these developers has been cited in the literature as an alternative to improve their understanding about usability due to the fact that, among other things, this improves the level of empathy with users. In this paper we present the results of a quasi-experiment which explores the origin of this improvement. Our study suggests that the empathy of novice developers towards users could be originated by Emotional Contagion (EC) of these developers. This EC occurs unconsciously in activities where these developers can observe users working with the software. The present research is an initial approximation as to the relation which EC and empathy have in order to improve the novice software developers' understanding of usability.

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Lizano F, Stage J. Improvement of novice software developers' understanding about usability: The role of empathy toward users as a case of emotional contagion. In Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics). PART 1 ed. Vol. 8510 LNCS. Springer. 2014. p. 207-218. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics); No. PART 1, Vol. 8510 LNCS). doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-07233-3_20

Improvement of novice software developers' understanding about usability: The role of empathy toward users as a case of emotional contagion

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