Would Sociable Software Engineers Observe Better?

Quantitative studies in Software Engineering are frequently dependent on primary studies in which population is usually small and established by convenience. It brings several limitations for the analysis and strength of results due sampling issues. Therefore, when these studies are reapplied, different and non-clustered populations are established, making unfeasible evidence generalization and contributing for an imbalance between research and practice. Aiming at investigating ways to overcome the absence of large sampling frames in Software Engineering studies, this short paper presents the results of an initial experience concerned with the systematic recruitment of subjects for a survey regarding software requirements effort factors by using social networks compared with recruitment by convenience. We have observed in this particular case that using social networks technology does not guarantee sample enlargement by just posting invitations in specific forums. However, its usage can contribute to increase the subjects´ heterogeneity and to increase the level of confidence of the sample, which consequently improve our capacity of observing the object under study, with the probable strengthen of results.