Two Integration Pathways in Human-Centered Requirements Engineering: A Systematic Mapping Study of Structural Gaps

A new systematic mapping study from Imen Benzarti and colleagues at the University of Quebec examines structural gaps in Human-Centered Requirements Engineering (HC-RE). By analyzing 56 primary studies across seven dimensions—including RE phases, user involvement techniques, and evaluation methods—the research reveals a critical disconnect: 70% of HC-RE approaches are multidisciplinary, yet only 39% have been empirically evaluated, and 48% address only the elicitation phase.

The cross-study analysis uncovers two parallel integration traditions: a Cognitive-Formal (C-F) pathway grounded in goal-based frameworks and formal modeling, and a Participatory-Iterative (P-I) pathway based on scenarios and iterative design. Each has complementary strengths, but their near-total separation prevents effective translation between human-centered artifacts and formal RE specifications. The authors identify this as the field's primary structural gap and propose a structured research agenda toward “Experience-Centered Requirements Engineering,” where user experience becomes a first-class concern in specifications.