Human Aspects of Software Engineering Lab

About HASEL

The Human Aspects of Software Engineering Lab at the University of Auckland carries out research projects focused on improving software practices and processes. Our goal is to make it easier (and more fun!) for software teams to create user-friendly products. For example, we study ways to improve coordination on software teams, investigate novel techniques to help software developers understand what users want from the software, and study software developer work patterns. We employ a variety of both qualitative and quantitative research methods including developing new methods and tools, data mining, repository analysis, social network analysis, interviews, surveys, and lab experiments.

We are also interested in leveraging deep learning algorithms to build innovative software systems aiming to enable the disabled. Among these interests are enabling computers to understand individuals suffering from speech impairments to act as a communication medium on their behalf, improving and expediating the identification of autistic individuals, and other related assistive technologies that fall in similar scope.

Recent News

Destructive Criticism in Software Code Review Impacts Inclusion

Feb 23, 2022

HASEL members, Sanuri Dananja Gunawardena, Peter Devine, Isabelle Beaumont, Lola Garden, and Dr Kelly Blincoe, together with Dr Emerson Murphy-Hill at Google, recently studied software developers' perception of destructive feedback in software code review. Software...

Post-lockdown Work Settings in New Zealand Software Companies

Nov 17, 2021

HASEL members, Dr Zainab Masood and Dr Kelly Blincoe, together with Prof Daniela Damian at the University of Victoria, recently studied work settings of New Zealand software companies after the first COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were lifted. Before the COVID-19...

Digital Inclusion and a Digital Strategy for Aotearoa

Nov 11, 2021

In October, the government released a discussion document, 'Towards a Digital Strategy for Aotearoa'. The document outlines three key themes, Mahi Tika: Trust, Mahi Ake: Growth, and Mahi Tahi: Inclusion. The Veracity Lab hosted a series of discussions, one on each of...