ECIS 2020 Research Papers
Abstract
Peer review is a common quality control practice in both science and software development. In this research, we investigate peer review in the development of Linux by drawing on network theory and network analysis. We frame an analytical model which integrates the sociological principle of homophily (i.e., the relational tendency of individuals to establish relationships with similar others) with prior research on peer-review in general and open-source software in particular. We found a relatively strong homophily tendency for maintainers to review other maintainers, but a comparable tendency is surprisingly absent regarding developers’ organizational affiliation. Such results mirror the documented norms, beliefs, values, processes, policies, and social hierarchies that characterize the Linux kernel development. Our results underline the power of generative mechanisms from network theory to explain the evolution of peer review networks. Regarding practitioners’ concern over the Linux commercialization trend, no relational bias in peer review was found albeit the increasing involvement of firms.
Recommended Citation
Teixeira, Jose; Leppänen, Ville; and Hyrynsalmi, Sami, "Network Science, Homophily and Who Reviews Who in the Linux Kernel?" (2020). In Proceedings of the 28th European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS), An Online AIS Conference, June 15-17, 2020.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2020_rp/104
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