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ICSE 2021
Mon 17 May - Sat 5 June 2021

Understanding how novices reason about coding at a neurological level has implications for training the next generation of software engineers. In recent years, medical imaging has been increasingly employed to investigate patterns of neural activity associated with coding activity. However, such studies have focused on advanced undergraduates and professionals. In a human study of 31 participants, we use functional near-infrared spectroscopy to measure the neural activity associated with introductory programming. In a controlled, contrast-based experiment, we relate brain activity when coding to that of reading natural language or mentally rotating objects (a spatial visualization task). Our primary result is that all three tasks—coding, prose reading, and mental rotation—are mentally distinct for novices. However, while those tasks are neurally distinct, we find more significant differences between prose and coding than between mental rotation and coding. Intriguingly, we generally find more activation in areas of the brain associated with spatial ability and task difficulty for novice coding compared to that reported in studies with more expert developers. Finally, in an exploratory analysis, we also find a neural activation pattern predictive of performance weeks later. While preliminary, these findings both expand on previous results (e.g., relating expertise to a similarity between coding and prose reading) and also provide a new understanding of the cognitive processes underlying novice programming.

Tue 25 May

Displayed time zone: Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna change

19:35 - 20:55
1.5.2. Developers: Observational StudiesSEIP - Software Engineering in Practice / Journal-First Papers / Technical Track at Blended Sessions Room 2 +12h
Chair(s): Carolyn Seaman University of Maryland Baltimore County
19:35
20m
Paper
What Leads to a Confirmatory or Disconfirmatory Behaviour of Software Testers?Journal-First
Journal-First Papers
Iflaah Salman University of Oulu, Pilar Rodriguez Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Burak Turhan Monash University, Ayse Tosun Istanbul Technical University, Arda Gureller Ericsson
Pre-print Media Attached
19:55
20m
Paper
An interview study of how developers use execution logs in embedded software engineeringSEIP
SEIP - Software Engineering in Practice
Nan Yang Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands, Pieter Cuijpers Eindhoven University of Technology, Ramon Schiffelers Eindhoven University of Technology and ASML, the Netherlands, Johan Lukkien Eindhoven University of Technology, Alexander Serebrenik Eindhoven University of Technology
Pre-print Media Attached
20:15
20m
Paper
Relating Reading, Visualization, and Coding for New Programmers: A Neuroimaging StudyTechnical Track
Technical Track
Madeline Endres University of Michigan, Zachary Karas University of Michigan, Xiaosu Hu University of Michigan, Ioulia Kovelman University of Michigan, Westley Weimer University of Michigan
Pre-print Media Attached
20:35
20m
Paper
Explicit Programming StrategiesJournal-First
Journal-First Papers
Thomas LaToza George Mason University, Maryam Arab George Mason University, Dastyni Loksa Towson University, Amy Ko University of Washington
Link to publication Pre-print Media Attached

Wed 26 May

Displayed time zone: Amsterdam, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna change

07:35 - 08:55
07:35
20m
Paper
What Leads to a Confirmatory or Disconfirmatory Behaviour of Software Testers?Journal-First
Journal-First Papers
Iflaah Salman University of Oulu, Pilar Rodriguez Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Burak Turhan Monash University, Ayse Tosun Istanbul Technical University, Arda Gureller Ericsson
Pre-print Media Attached
07:55
20m
Paper
An interview study of how developers use execution logs in embedded software engineeringSEIP
SEIP - Software Engineering in Practice
Nan Yang Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands, Pieter Cuijpers Eindhoven University of Technology, Ramon Schiffelers Eindhoven University of Technology and ASML, the Netherlands, Johan Lukkien Eindhoven University of Technology, Alexander Serebrenik Eindhoven University of Technology
Pre-print Media Attached
08:15
20m
Paper
Relating Reading, Visualization, and Coding for New Programmers: A Neuroimaging StudyTechnical Track
Technical Track
Madeline Endres University of Michigan, Zachary Karas University of Michigan, Xiaosu Hu University of Michigan, Ioulia Kovelman University of Michigan, Westley Weimer University of Michigan
Pre-print Media Attached
08:35
20m
Paper
Explicit Programming StrategiesJournal-First
Journal-First Papers
Thomas LaToza George Mason University, Maryam Arab George Mason University, Dastyni Loksa Towson University, Amy Ko University of Washington
Link to publication Pre-print Media Attached