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Preprogramming Knowledge: A Major Source of Misconceptions in Novice Programmers
Abstract
We present a process model to explain bugs produced by novices early in a programming course. The model was motivated by interviews with novice programmers solving simple programming problems. Our key idea is that many programming bugs can be explained by novices inappropriately using their knowledge of step-by-step procedural specifications in natural language. We view programming bugs as patches generated in response to an impasse reached by the novice while developing a program. We call such patching strategies bug generators. Several of our bug generators describe how natural language preprogramming knowledge is used by novices to create patches. Other kinds of bug generators are also discussed. We describe a representation both for novice natural language preprogramming knowledge and novice fragmentary programming knowledge. Using these representations and the bug generators, we evaluate the model by analyzing four interviews with novice programmers.
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Cited by
Learning and Teaching Programming: A Review and Discussion
Robins, A., Rountree, J., & Rountree, N. (2003) · Computer Science Education · doi:10.1076/csed.13.2.137.14200 · Cited by 1,736
Students’ Misconceptions and Other Difficulties in Introductory Programming: A Literature Review
Qian, Y., & Lehman, J. (2018) · ACM Transactions on Computing Education · doi:10.1145/3077618 · Cited by 529
Novice mistakes: are the folk wisdoms correct?
Spohrer, J. C., & Soloway, E. (1986) · Communications of the ACM · doi:10.1145/6138.6145 · Cited by 310
Self-citationIndividual Differences In Human-Computer Interaction
Egan, D. E. (1988) · Handbook of Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1016/b978-0-444-70536-5.50029-4 · Cited by 269
Computing Education Research Today
Fincher, S. A., Tenenberg, J., Dorn, B., Hundhausen, C., McCartney, R., & Murphy, L. (2019) · The Cambridge Handbook of Computing Education Research · doi:10.1017/9781108654555.003 · Cited by 7
Metadata
- Authors
- Bonar, J., & Soloway, E.
- Venue
- Human–Computer Interaction
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 1985-06
- Volume
- 1
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 133-161
- ISSN
- 0737-0024 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-7051
- OpenAlex
- W2074731714
- Cited by
- 237
- References
- 0
- FWCI
- 28.33
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
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