Motivations and Barriers to Communicating Software Engineering Research: Insights from Early Career Researchers
2026-07-27 • Software Engineering
Software Engineering
AI summaryⓘ
The authors studied how PhD students in software engineering think about and practice science communication. They interviewed 18 students from various countries and found that while many want to share their research and gain recognition, they often feel anxious and unsure about how and where to communicate. The students also face a lack of guidance and feedback, making it hard to connect with the right audiences. The authors suggest creating better support systems to help students communicate their work more effectively.
science communicationsoftware engineeringPhD studentsthematic analysissocial anxietycommunication channelsinstitutional supportearly-career researchersprofessional recognitionaudience engagement
Authors
Shalini Chakraborty, Marvin Wyrich, Sven Apel, Sebastian Baltes
Abstract
Science communication is increasingly becoming a part of modern research careers, involving researchers to disseminate knowledge, engage broader communities, and increase the societal impact of their work. Despite its growing importance, little is known about how early-career software engineering researchers perceive and navigate science communication in practice. In this paper, we investigate how PhD students in software engineering experience science communication. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 doctoral candidates from diverse international backgrounds. Using thematic analysis, we examine three interconnected dimensions: motivations, communication channels, and barriers. Our findings reveal a strong tension between aspiration and practice. Participants were highly motivated to engage in science communication due to opportunities for collaboration, professional recognition, broader impact, and advocacy for themselves and their research. However, translating these motivations into action was frequently constrained by social anxiety, uncertainty regarding appropriate audiences and communication venues, limited feedback mechanisms, insufficient institutional guidance, and challenges associated with navigating an increasingly fragmented communication landscape. Our findings highlight the need for tailored, balanced support systems that empower software engineering PhD students to engage in science communication effectively and confidently across diverse cultural and institutional environments. We outline practical implications that offer initial guidance for addressing these challenges in future work.