I was also struck by seeing actual studies cited, in the usually fashionable, religious and cliquey schoolyard of software development.
I wonder why there aren't any studies more recent than 1991. That's 18 years ago! Before Java, before C#, before Ruby, before JavaScript, before PHP (C++, Perl and Python had already started).
Perhaps because everyone involved has a barrow to push (including academia), no one has an interest in undertaking impartial and objective research - after all, it might give the wrong answers.
I wonder why there aren't any studies more recent than 1991. That's 18 years ago! Before Java, before C#, before Ruby, before JavaScript, before PHP (C++, Perl and Python had already started).
Perhaps because everyone involved has a barrow to push (including academia), no one has an interest in undertaking impartial and objective research - after all, it might give the wrong answers.