Prospectus

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Psychology of Programming

Course
2018-2019

Admission requirements

None

Description

This course centers around the question whether different programming languages affect how we program and how we think about programming. If programming languages are languages, could we (and should we) use methods from linguistics or psychology to perform research on them? This course explains the basics of psychology needed to reason about programming language design and the basics of associated research methods. The course ends with students writing a research proposal.

Course objectives

  • Understanding the role programming languages play in thinking about programming;

  • Being able to apply a broad range of research methods including: controlled experiments, surveys, cognitive dimensions studies, grounded theory.

Timetable

The most recent timetable can be found on the students' website.

Mode of instruction

Lectures & research proposal.

Course Load

Hours of study: 168 hrs (= 6 EC).
Lectures: 26 hrs
Lecture preparation/weekly homework: 72 hrs
Research proposal (preliminary): 30 hrs
Research proposal (final): 30 hrs
Presentation preparation: 10 hrs

Assessment method

Final grade is determined by a research proposal.

Blackboard

See: blackboard.

Reading list

Book to be used:

Registration

  • You have to sign up for courses and exams (including retakes) in uSis. Check this link for information about how to register for courses.

  • Please also register for the course in Blackboard.

  • Due to limited capacity, external students can only register after consultation with the programme coordinator/study advisor (mailto:mastercs@liacs.leideuniv.nl).

Contact

Lecturer: dr.ir. F.F.J. Hermans.

Remarks

None.