Dr. Michael O’Brien
Responsibilities
- Teaching Assistant in Technical Communication
Dr. Michael P. O’Brien holds a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Limerick and holds both an honours BSc degree in Information Systems and an MSc degree in Computer Science (by research & thesis). His research interests include cognitive and educational psychology, software comprehension strategies, empirical studies of programmers and software evolution. His award-winning research has been published at international conferences, workshops & seminars in this domain. Michael, a past winner of the prestigious Dwyer Memorial Award for excellence in education is a Member of the Psychology of Programming Interest Group and the Computer Science Education Research Network
Selected Publications
Twomey, T., O’Brien, M. P., (2008), “From Retention Initiatives to Retention Strategy: A Case Study of Learner Retention at Limerick Institute of Technology”, Proceedings of the 3rd Annual Conference on Student Retention, Limerick
O’Brien, M. P., (2008), “Teaching for Diverse Learning Styles: Active Learning Strategies to use in the Classroom”, Resource document compiled for academic staff at Limerick I.T., Limerick Institute of Technology
O’Brien, M. P., Farrell, V., (2007) ,”Profiling Learning Styles in the Shannon Consortium – Applying Learning Styles Theory in Writing Practice”, Proceedings of the 1st Symposium on Research & Writing Practices, University of Limerick
O’Brien, M. P., (2007), “Empirically Evolving a Model of the Information-Seeking Behaviour of Industrial Programmers”, PhD in Computer Science, University of Limerick
Buckley, J., O’Brien, M.P., Power, N., (2006), “Empirically Refining a Model of Programmers’ Information-Seeking Behaviour during Software Maintenance”, Proceedings of the 18th Annual Psychology of Programming Interest Group (PPIG) Workshop, Brighton, UK
O’Brien, M. P., Buckley, J., Exton, C., (2005), “Empirically Studying Software Practitioners – Bridging the Gap Between Theory & Practice”, Proceedings of International Conference on Software Maintenance, Budapest, Hungary, IEEE Computer Society
O’Brien, M. P., Buckley, J., (2005), “Modelling the Information-Seeking Behaviour of Programmers: An Empirical Approach”, Proceedings of 12th International Workshop on Program Comprehension, St. Louis, Missouri, IEEE Computer Society
O’Brien, M. P., Buckley, J., Shaft, T., (2004), “Expectation-based & Inference-based Software Comprehension”, Journal of Software Maintenance & Evolution
O’Brien, M. P., (2003), “Software Comprehension – A Review & Research Direction”, Technical Report UL-CSIS-03-3, University of Limerick, Ireland
O’Brien, M. P., (2002), “Understanding Software Comprehension – A ‘Quality’ Issue”, Proceedings of the BCS 10th International Software Quality Management Conference, Limerick Institute of Technology
O’Brien, M. P., Buckley, J., (2001), “Identifying Software Comprehension Processes”, In The Irish Scientist Year Book
O’Brien, M. P., Buckley, J., (2001), “Inference-based and Expectation-based Processing in Program Comprehension”, Proceedings of the 9th International Workshop on Program Comprehension, Toronto, Canada
O’Brien, M. P., Shaft, T. M, Buckley, J., (2001) “An Open-Source Analysis Schema for Identifying Software Comprehension Processes”, Proceedings of the 13th Annual PPIG Workshop, Bournemouth, UK