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Mapping the Problem-Solving Strategies of Novice Programmers to Polya’s Framework: SWOT Analysis as a Bottleneck Identification Tool

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ICT Education (SACLA 2021)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 1461))

Abstract

The development of problem-solving skills continues to be a challenge in various disciplines including Computer Science. In this study, we used the principles of the Decoding the Disciplines (DtDs) paradigm to better understand the mental processes that novice programmers follow when answering source code comprehension (SCC) related questions. This understanding can be fundamental in helping novices to overcome problem-solving related challenges. While focusing on step 1 of the DtDs paradigm, the aim of this study was threefold. Firstly, we explored the problem-solving strategies utilised by novice programmers while they were attempting to answer SCC related questions. Secondly, the identified problem-solving strategies were mapped onto Polya’s four problem-solving steps. Finally, we utilised a SWOT analysis as a tool to identify problem-solving related learning bottlenecks. This study utilised an integrated methodological approach where data was collected by means of asking questions, observations, and artefact analysis. Thematic analysis of the collected data revealed a range of problem-solving strategies that these novice programmers utilised while performing various SCC tasks. These strategies were then mapped onto Polya’s problem-solving steps. Based on a SWOT analysis of these strategies, we identified six problem-solving bottlenecks that point to difficulties that are not sufficiently addressed in introductory CS courses.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computer Science and Informatics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

    Pakiso J. Khomokhoana & Liezel Nel

Authors
  1. Pakiso J. Khomokhoana
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  2. Liezel Nel
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Correspondence to Liezel Nel .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Wai Sze Leung

  2. University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Marijke Coetzee

  3. University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Duncan Coulter

  4. University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Deon Cotterrell

Appendix

Appendix

Question 3

Consider the following source code fragment:

figure a

After this source code is executed, count contains:

figure b

Question 6

The following method isSorted should return true if the array is sorted in ascending order. Otherwise, the method should return false:

figure c

Which of the following is the missing source code from the method isSorted?

figure d

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Khomokhoana, P.J., Nel, L. (2022). Mapping the Problem-Solving Strategies of Novice Programmers to Polya’s Framework: SWOT Analysis as a Bottleneck Identification Tool. In: Leung, W.S., Coetzee, M., Coulter, D., Cotterrell, D. (eds) ICT Education. SACLA 2021. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1461. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95003-3_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95003-3_9

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