Analysis of code reading to gain more insight in program comprehension
Analysis of code reading to gain more insight in program comprehension
复制标题
分析代码阅读以更深入地理解程序
DOI：
10.1145/2094131.2094133
复制
发表时间：
2011
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
A. Busjahn
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Teresa Busjahn;Carsten Schulte;A. Busjahn
代码阅读虽然是程序理解的组成部分，但很少反映出。在本文中，我们要主张一种研究方法和方向利用在阅读过程中分析的潜力。基于心理学和计算方面的一些研究，大声跟踪和思考的一些研究被详细阐述为代码阅读研究的可行研究工具。我们进行了一项可行性研究，旨在研究代码阅读的实际过程，作为感官的开始点。开发了计算和统计工具，以促进数据捕获和分析眼睛跟踪实验。结果不仅提供了概念证明，而且已经强调了阅读自然语言文本和源代码之间的差异，以及在关键字和运算符等不同代码元素中的独特关注分配。
总之，我们建议将理论驱动的选定刺激材料组合在一起，这是一个经过精心设计的眼动追踪过程，并辅以适当的有关理解后的后测试以及回顾性思考，以获取有关感知和理解过程之间链接过程的其他信息。作为其他研究方法的补充，这绝对应该有助于我们在教育研究框架内提高理解知识。
Code reading, although an integral part of program comprehension, is rarely reflected. In this paper, we want to argue for a research approach and direction exploiting the potential that lies in the analysis of reading processes. Based on the vast experience compiled in psychology and some studies in computing, eye tracking and think aloud were elaborated as a viable research instrument for code reading studies. We conducted a feasibility study, designed to examine the actual process of code reading as the sensory starting point of comprehension. Computational and statistical tools were developed to facilitate data capture and analysis for eye tracking experiments. Results do not just provide proof of concept but already emphasize differences between reading natural language text and source code, as well as a distinct attention allocation within different code elements like keywords and operators.
In conclusion we suggest a combination of theory-driven selected stimuli material, a carefully designed procedure of eye tracking, complemented with suitable post-tests on comprehension as well as retrospective think aloud in order to obtain additional information on the linking process between perception and comprehension. As an addition to other research approaches this should most certainly help us to improve our knowledge of comprehension within an educational research framework.