Readability metrics for program code: how is reading ease reflected in gaze?

James H. Paterson; Katrin Hartmann

Readability metrics for program code: how is reading ease reflected in gaze?

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

Abstract

This paper describes a range of models that have been proposed for the readability of program code. We consider ways in which eye movements can be used to provide evidence for the validity of these models. It is proposed that gaze metrics based on fixation count and duration may correlate with readability scores. We also consider the prospects for developing a model based on gaze to measure readability. The usefulness to educators of measures of readability is discussed.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Reports and Studies in Forestry and Natural Sciences: Eye Movements in Programming: Models to Data, Proceedings of the Third International Workshop
Editors	Roman Bednarik, Teresa Busjahn, Carsten Schulte, Sascha Tamm
Place of Publication	Joenssu, Finland
Publisher	University of Eastern Finland
Pages	12-13
Number of pages	2
Volume	23
ISBN (Print)	9789526120409, 17985684
Publication status	Published - 2016

Keywords

eye tracking
code reading
readability
computing education

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Computer Science

1 Article

EMIP: The eye movements in programming dataset
Bednarik, R., Busjahn, T., Gibaldi, A., Ahadi, A., Bielikova, M., Crosby, M., Essig, K., Fagerholm, F., Jbara, A., Lister, R., Orlov, P., Paterson, J., Sharif, B., SirkiäFIn, T., Stelovsky, J., Tvarozek, J., Vrzakova, H. & van der Linde, I., 15 Oct 2020, In: Science of Computer Programming. 198, 11 p., 102520.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
21 Citations (Scopus)

Cite this

Paterson, J. H., & Hartmann, K. (2016). Readability metrics for program code: how is reading ease reflected in gaze? In R. Bednarik, T. Busjahn, C. Schulte, & S. Tamm (Eds.), Reports and Studies in Forestry and Natural Sciences: Eye Movements in Programming: Models to Data, Proceedings of the Third International Workshop (Vol. 23, pp. 12-13). University of Eastern Finland.

Paterson, James H. ; Hartmann, Katrin. / Readability metrics for program code: how is reading ease reflected in gaze?. Reports and Studies in Forestry and Natural Sciences: Eye Movements in Programming: Models to Data, Proceedings of the Third International Workshop. editor / Roman Bednarik ; Teresa Busjahn ; Carsten Schulte ; Sascha Tamm. Vol. 23 Joenssu, Finland : University of Eastern Finland, 2016. pp. 12-13

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abstract = "This paper describes a range of models that have been proposed for the readability of program code. We consider ways in which eye movements can be used to provide evidence for the validity of these models. It is proposed that gaze metrics based on fixation count and duration may correlate with readability scores. We also consider the prospects for developing a model based on gaze to measure readability. The usefulness to educators of measures of readability is discussed.",

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Paterson, JH & Hartmann, K 2016, Readability metrics for program code: how is reading ease reflected in gaze? in R Bednarik, T Busjahn, C Schulte & S Tamm (eds), Reports and Studies in Forestry and Natural Sciences: Eye Movements in Programming: Models to Data, Proceedings of the Third International Workshop. vol. 23, University of Eastern Finland, Joenssu, Finland, pp. 12-13.

Readability metrics for program code: how is reading ease reflected in gaze? / Paterson, James H.; Hartmann, Katrin.
Reports and Studies in Forestry and Natural Sciences: Eye Movements in Programming: Models to Data, Proceedings of the Third International Workshop. ed. / Roman Bednarik; Teresa Busjahn; Carsten Schulte; Sascha Tamm. Vol. 23 Joenssu, Finland: University of Eastern Finland, 2016. p. 12-13.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review