Preprogramming Knowledge

A Major Source of Misconceptions in Novice Programmers

Bibliographic Data

ID15215735
AuthorsJeffrey Bonar (University of Pittsburgh, corresponding author), Elliot Soloway (0000-0002-5724-1556, Yale University)
Year1985
Volume1
Issue2
Pages133-161
Publication date1985-06-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueHuman-Computer Interaction (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0737-0024 • E-ISSN: 1532-7051
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1207/s15327051hci0102_3
OpenAlexW2074731714
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited10

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

Inductive programming · Key (lock · Natural (archaeology · Natural language · Natural language processing · Natural language programming · Procedural programming · Process (computing · Programming language · Programming paradigm · Representation (politics · Software engineering · Computer Science · Intelligent Tutoring Systems and Adaptive Learning · Software Engineering Research · Software Engineering Techniques and Practices · Artificial Intelligence

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