Detecting and understanding students' misconceptions related to algorithms and data structures

We describe the first results of our work towards a concept inventory for Algorithms and Data Structures. Based on expert interviews and the analysis of 400 exams we were able to identify several core topics which are prone to error. In a pilot study, we verified misconceptions known from the literature and identified previously unknown misconceptions related to Algorithms and Data Structures. In addition to this, we report on methodological issues and point out the importance of a two-pronged approach to data collection.

[1]  Michael C. Loui,et al.  Creating the digital logic concept inventory , 2010, SIGCSE.

[2]  Mordechai Ben-Ari,et al.  A long-term investigation of the comprehension of OOP concepts by novices , 2005, Comput. Sci. Educ..

[3]  Robert McCartney,et al.  Student understanding of object-oriented programming as expressed in concept maps , 2008, SIGCSE '08.

[4]  Mark Woodman,et al.  Avoiding object misconceptions , 1997, SIGCSE '97.

[5]  Clifford Stein,et al.  Introduction to Algorithms, 2nd edition. , 2001 .

[6]  Leen-Kiat Soh,et al.  Concept inventories in computer science for the topic discrete mathematics , 2006, ACM SIGCSE Bull..

[7]  Acm Ieee-Cs Joint Curriculum Task Force Computing Curricula 2001: Computer Science , 2002 .

[8]  Geoffrey L. Herman,et al.  Identifying student misconceptions of programming , 2010, SIGCSE.

[9]  Robert McCartney,et al.  Can graduating students design software systems? , 2006, SIGCSE '06.

[10]  Xin-She Yang,et al.  Introduction to Algorithms , 2021, Nature-Inspired Optimization Algorithms.

[11]  David Ginat,et al.  The baffling CS notions of "as-if" and "don't-care" , 2010, SIGCSE.

[12]  Lynda Thomas,et al.  Can graduating students design: revisited , 2011, SIGCSE.

[13]  Michael C. Loui,et al.  Identifying important and difficult concepts in introductory computing courses using a delphi process , 2008, SIGCSE '08.

[14]  Lauri Malmi,et al.  Observations on student misconceptions—A case study of the Build – Heap Algorithm , 2006, Comput. Sci. Educ..

[15]  Michael Thuné,et al.  Novice Java programmers' conceptions of "object" and "class", and variation theory , 2005, ITiCSE '05.

[16]  Mark Guzdial,et al.  Developing a validated assessment of fundamental CS1 concepts , 2010, SIGCSE.