Bridging Perspectives: Unveiling Racial Dynamics in Remote Pair Programming Communication

Remote pair programming is a collaborative method in software development, yet a research gap exists concerning how race influences communication within these interactions. Our study is dedicated to unveiling communication dynamics between pairs, with a specific focus on Black developers, as their representation diminishes in the university-to-industry pipeline, where White developers constitute the majority. We recruited 24 US-based developers, both Black and White, forming 12 pairs. These pairs were equally distributed among same- and mixed-race compositions, between men and women. Employing the think-aloud method, each pair engaged in collaborative programming tasks, followed by independent retrospective interviews. Our results revealed that while mixed-race pairs were actively engaged in the task, they displayed the lowest frequency of happiness facial expressions, highlighting the intricate racial dynamics in communication. Our overarching goal is to gain insights into how communication is influenced by the perceived racial background of partners. This exploration is imperative for shaping the development of inclusive and empathetic collaborative software tools.