The development process used by researchers often seems to be random and unsystematic. A Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is often not considered, internal commenting is scarce, and external documentation takes the form of erasure marks left on whiteboards. Configuration management is paid lip-service, but is not standard practice. This paper examines some reasons behind the apparent large-scale non-adoption of software engineering in academic research. We also look at the effects on some projects where it was adopted. Finally we present a new SDLC designed for the academic research environment, suggest an organisational structure to maximize the benefit to research students, academics, and the institution.

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Full citation: Andre Oboler, David McG. Squire and Kevin B. Korb, Software Engineering for Computer Science Research – Facilitating Improved Research Outcomes, International Journal of Computer and Information Science, 5, 1, pp. 24-34, January 2004.