Evaluating the readability of example programs for novice programmers

James H. Paterson

Evaluating the readability of example programs for novice programmers

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

Abstract

This paper describes a proposed study of readability of code examples designed to support learning programming. The study focuses on measuring readability for comprehension. It considers only code structure rather than presentation and relates perceived readability and comprehension to a simple reading ease score and to eye movements during code reading. Characteristics of the example programs to be used in the study are described. Insights are sought into the value of metrics and eye movements in evaluating readability.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Freie Universität Berlin: Eye Movements in Programming: Spring Academy 2017
Subtitle of host publication	Fachbereich Mathematik und Informatik Serie B: Informatik
Editors	Sascha Tamm, Roman Bednarik, Teresa Busjahn, Carsten Schulte, Hana Vrzakova, Lea Budde
Place of Publication	Berlin
Pages	9-11
Number of pages	3
Publication status	Published - May 2017

Keywords

computing education
code reading
eye tracking

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Paterson, J. H. (2017). Evaluating the readability of example programs for novice programmers. In S. Tamm, R. Bednarik, T. Busjahn, C. Schulte, H. Vrzakova, & L. Budde (Eds.), Freie Universität Berlin: Eye Movements in Programming: Spring Academy 2017: Fachbereich Mathematik und Informatik Serie B: Informatik (pp. 9-11). http://edocs.fu-berlin.de/docs/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/FUDOCS_derivate_000000008221/emip2017_report.pdf;jsessionid=775C0455098BE735600482267FAFB710?hosts=

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title = "Evaluating the readability of example programs for novice programmers",

abstract = "This paper describes a proposed study of readability of code examples designed to support learning programming. The study focuses on measuring readability for comprehension. It considers only code structure rather than presentation and relates perceived readability and comprehension to a simple reading ease score and to eye movements during code reading. Characteristics of the example programs to be used in the study are described. Insights are sought into the value of metrics and eye movements in evaluating readability.",

keywords = "computing education, code reading , eye tracking",

author = "Paterson, {James H.}",

year = "2017",

month = may,

language = "English",

pages = "9--11",

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Paterson, JH 2017, Evaluating the readability of example programs for novice programmers. in S Tamm, R Bednarik, T Busjahn, C Schulte, H Vrzakova & L Budde (eds), Freie Universität Berlin: Eye Movements in Programming: Spring Academy 2017: Fachbereich Mathematik und Informatik Serie B: Informatik. Berlin, pp. 9-11. <http://edocs.fu-berlin.de/docs/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/FUDOCS_derivate_000000008221/emip2017_report.pdf;jsessionid=775C0455098BE735600482267FAFB710?hosts=>

Evaluating the readability of example programs for novice programmers. / Paterson, James H.

Freie Universität Berlin: Eye Movements in Programming: Spring Academy 2017: Fachbereich Mathematik und Informatik Serie B: Informatik. ed. / Sascha Tamm; Roman Bednarik; Teresa Busjahn; Carsten Schulte; Hana Vrzakova; Lea Budde. Berlin, 2017. p. 9-11.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

TY - CHAP

T1 - Evaluating the readability of example programs for novice programmers

AU - Paterson, James H.

PY - 2017/5

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N2 - This paper describes a proposed study of readability of code examples designed to support learning programming. The study focuses on measuring readability for comprehension. It considers only code structure rather than presentation and relates perceived readability and comprehension to a simple reading ease score and to eye movements during code reading. Characteristics of the example programs to be used in the study are described. Insights are sought into the value of metrics and eye movements in evaluating readability.

AB - This paper describes a proposed study of readability of code examples designed to support learning programming. The study focuses on measuring readability for comprehension. It considers only code structure rather than presentation and relates perceived readability and comprehension to a simple reading ease score and to eye movements during code reading. Characteristics of the example programs to be used in the study are described. Insights are sought into the value of metrics and eye movements in evaluating readability.

KW - computing education

KW - code reading

KW - eye tracking

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SP - 9

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BT - Freie Universität Berlin: Eye Movements in Programming: Spring Academy 2017

A2 - Tamm, Sascha

A2 - Bednarik, Roman

A2 - Busjahn, Teresa

A2 - Schulte, Carsten

A2 - Vrzakova, Hana

A2 - Budde, Lea

CY - Berlin

ER -