The challenges of theory-software translation

Jay, Caroline; Haines, Robert; Carver, Jeffrey C.; Gesing, Sandra; Brandt, Steven R.; Howison, James; Dubey, Anshu; Phillips, J. C.; Wan, Hui; Turk, Matthew J.

doi:10.12688/f1000research.25561.1

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…These themes were chosen as they are key themes for other initiatives in the sector, including the Research Software Alliance and the Software Evidence Bank (Software Sustainability Institute, n.d.). The challenges of theory-software translation utilized somewhat similar themes, with questions identified in the areas of design, infrastructure and culture [4]. They can be defined as follows:…”

Section: Method/processmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Do We (Not) Know About Research Software Engineering?

Lamprecht

Martinez-Ortiz

Barker

et al. 2022

Journal of Open Research Software

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As recognition of the vital importance of software for contemporary research is increasing, Research Software Engineering (RSE) is emerging as a discipline in its own right. We present an inventory of relevant research questions about RSE as a basis for future research and initiatives to advance the field, highlighting selected literature and initiatives. This work is the outcome of a RSE community workshop held as part of the 2020 International Series of Online Research Software Events (SORSE) which identified and prioritized key questions across three overlapping themes: people, policy and infrastructure. Almost half of the questions focus on the people theme, which addresses issues related to career paths, recognition and motivation; recruitment and retention; skills; and diversity, equity and inclusion. However, the people and policy themes have the same number of prioritized questions. We recommend that different types of stakeholders, such as RSE employers and policy makers, take responsibility for supporting or encouraging answering of these questions by organizations that have an interest. Initiatives such as the International Council of RSE Associations should also be engaged in this work.

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Section: Method/processmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Do We (Not) Know About Research Software Engineering?

Lamprecht

Martinez-Ortiz

Barker

et al. 2022

Journal of Open Research Software

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“…This model of collective knowledge production has previously been successfully used (e.g. Jay et al 18 ).…”

Section: Consentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public perceptions and interactions with UK COVID-19 Test, Trace and Isolate policies, and implications for pandemic infectious disease modelling

et al. 2022

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Background The efforts to contain SARS-CoV-2 and reduce the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have been supported by Test, Trace and Isolate (TTI) systems in many settings, including the United Kingdom. Mathematical models of transmission and TTI interventions, used to inform design and policy choices, make assumptions about the public’s behaviour in the context of a rapidly unfolding and changeable emergency. This study investigates public perceptions and interactions with UK TTI policy in July 2021, assesses them against how TTI processes are conceptualised and represented in models, and then interprets the findings with modellers who have been contributing evidence to TTI policy. Methods 20 members of the public recruited via social media were interviewed for one hour about their perceptions and interactions with the UK TTI system. Thematic analysis identified key themes, which were then presented back to a workshop of pandemic infectious disease modellers who assessed these findings against assumptions made in TTI intervention modelling. Workshop members co-drafted this report. Results Themes included education about SARS-CoV-2, perceived risks, trust, mental health and practical concerns. Findings covered testing practices, including the uses of and trust in different types of testing, and the challenges of testing and isolating faced by different demographic groups. This information was judged as consequential to the modelling process, from guiding the selection of research questions, influencing choice of model structure, informing parameter ranges and validating or challenging assumptions, to highlighting where model assumptions are reasonable or where their poor reflection of practice might lead to uninformative results. Conclusions We conclude that deeper engagement with members of the public should be integrated at regular stages of public health intervention modelling.

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“…Software exists to perform processes and calculations that would otherwise be impossible in practical terms. Whilst we can endeavour to express an algorithm in pseudocode (a process fraught with problems, as the proliferation of inaccurate versions of Porter's stemming algorithm demonstrates (Thimbleby, 2003)), many computational analyses simply cannot be translated into words or equations (Jay et al, 2020). Explaining what a piece of software does will remain an essential part of reporting research, but providing access to the code itself is vital to ensuring the integrity, transparency and reproducibility of the research.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Software Must be Recognised as an Important Output of Scholarly Research

Jay

Haines

2021

IJDC

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Software now lies at the heart of scholarly research. Here we argue that as well as being important from a methodological perspective, software should, in many instances, be recognised as an output of research, equivalent to an academic paper. The article discusses the different roles that software may play in research and highlights the relationship between software and research sustainability and reproducibility. It describes the challenges associated with the processes of citing and reviewing software, which differ from those used for papers. We conclude that whilst software outputs do not necessarily fit comfortably within the current publication model, there is a great deal of positive work underway that is likely to make an impact in addressing this.

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The challenges of theory-software translation

Cited by 6 publications

References 20 publications

What Do We (Not) Know About Research Software Engineering?

What Do We (Not) Know About Research Software Engineering?

Public perceptions and interactions with UK COVID-19 Test, Trace and Isolate policies, and implications for pandemic infectious disease modelling

Software Must be Recognised as an Important Output of Scholarly Research

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