Identifying latent patterns in undergraduate Students’ programming profiles

Abstract

This study aims to explore and reveal profiling patterns in the measurement of cognitive and noncognitivecharacteristics of undergraduate students' programming performances. Spatial skills, workingmemory, perceived programming self-efficacy, mathematics scores, and academic grade point averagescores were taken indicative variables to be explored. Participants of the study are 100 undergraduatestudents registered to the Programming-I course at two different universities. The data were analyzedthrough multi-dimensional profile analysis. The result of the multidimensional scaling analysis indicated twodifferent profiles for the two groups: high and low programming performance groups. For both groups,relationship between the most similar variables was found to be verbal memory, mathematics achievementand perceived programming self-efficacy. The results indicated that there was a relatively similarrelationship between visual-spatial memory and spatial orientation skills in the low-performance group,while mental rotation skill was significantly different than the other variables. It was noted that two profiles forhighand low-performance groups were quite different in terms of mental rotation skill. It was also found that spatial orientation, visual-spatial memory and mental rotation performances were all different from eachother, and from the other three variables in the group with high programming performance. The mostdefinitive variables for low-and high-performance groups were self-efficacy, verbal memory andmathematics achievement. This study revealed that only verbal memory was the determinant variable inboth groups for working memory.

Examination of Undergraduate and Associate Degree Students’ Computer Programming Attitude and Self-Efficacy According to Thinking Style, Gender and Experience

“…One of the most significant determining variables distinguishing students with high and low programming performance is self-efficacy (Altun, & Mazman, 2015;Mazman, 2013). Selfefficacy is related to the individual's belief in his or her capacity to make the necessary effort to achieve a certain goal (Bandura, 1997).…”

Gender Differences in Middle School Students’ Attitudes and Self-Efficacy Perceptions towards mBlock Programming

“…Even if the individual has enough knowledge and skills to perform a particular task; success, course and career choices can be negatively affected if he / she has doubts about his performance (Altun & Mazman, 2012;Baser, 2013). Consequently, self-efficacy perceptions towards programming affect programming success (Mazman & Altun, 2012) and programming performance (Altun, & Mazman, 2015).…”