The cognition of programming: logical reasoning, algebra and vocabulary skills predict programming performance following an introductory computing course

IF 1.2 4区心理学 Q4 PSYCHOLOGY, EXPERIMENTAL

Journal of Cognitive Psychology Pub Date : 2023-01-18 DOI:10.1080/20445911.2023.2166054

I. Graafsma, Serje Robidoux, L. Nickels, Matthew Roberts, V. Polito, Judy D. Zhu, E. Marinus

{"title":"The cognition of programming: logical reasoning, algebra and vocabulary skills predict programming performance following an introductory computing course","authors":"I. Graafsma, Serje Robidoux, L. Nickels, Matthew Roberts, V. Polito, Judy D. Zhu, E. Marinus","doi":"10.1080/20445911.2023.2166054","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT In the current study we aimed to determine which cognitive skills play a role when learning to program. We examined five cognitive skills (pattern recognition, algebra, logical reasoning, grammar learning and vocabulary learning) as predictors of course-related programming performance and their generalised programming performance in 282 students in an undergraduate introductory programming course. Initial skills in algebra, logical reasoning, and vocabulary learning predicted performance for generalised programming skill, while only logical reasoning skills predicted course-related programming performance. Structural equation modelling showed support for a model where the cognitive skills were grouped into a language factor and an algorithmic/mathematics factor. Of these two factors, only the algorithmic/mathematics factor was found to predict generalised and course-related programming skills. Our results suggested that algorithmic/mathematical skills are most relevant when predicting generalised programming success, but also showed a role for memory-related language skills.","PeriodicalId":47483,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cognitive Psychology","volume":"35 1","pages":"364 - 381"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2000,"publicationDate":"2023-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"1","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Cognitive Psychology","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20445911.2023.2166054","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, EXPERIMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 1

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the current study we aimed to determine which cognitive skills play a role when learning to program. We examined five cognitive skills (pattern recognition, algebra, logical reasoning, grammar learning and vocabulary learning) as predictors of course-related programming performance and their generalised programming performance in 282 students in an undergraduate introductory programming course. Initial skills in algebra, logical reasoning, and vocabulary learning predicted performance for generalised programming skill, while only logical reasoning skills predicted course-related programming performance. Structural equation modelling showed support for a model where the cognitive skills were grouped into a language factor and an algorithmic/mathematics factor. Of these two factors, only the algorithmic/mathematics factor was found to predict generalised and course-related programming skills. Our results suggested that algorithmic/mathematical skills are most relevant when predicting generalised programming success, but also showed a role for memory-related language skills.

查看原文本刊更多论文

编程的认知:逻辑推理，代数和词汇技能预测编程性能后的入门计算课程

在当前的研究中，我们旨在确定哪些认知技能在学习编程时发挥作用。我们研究了282名本科编程入门课程学生的五种认知技能(模式识别、代数、逻辑推理、语法学习和词汇学习)作为课程相关编程表现及其广义编程表现的预测因子。代数、逻辑推理和词汇学习的初始技能可以预测泛化编程技能的表现，而只有逻辑推理技能可以预测与课程相关的编程表现。结构方程模型支持将认知技能分为语言因素和算法/数学因素的模型。在这两个因素中，只有算法/数学因素被发现可以预测一般的和与课程相关的编程技能。我们的研究结果表明，算法/数学技能在预测广义编程成功时最相关，但也显示了与记忆相关的语言技能的作用。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Journal of Cognitive Psychology PSYCHOLOGY, EXPERIMENTAL-

CiteScore

2.30

自引率

15.40%

发文量