Predictors of Errors of Novice Java Programmers

Abstract

This descriptive study determined which of the sources of errors would predict the errors committed by novice Java programmers. Descriptive statistics revealed that the respondents perceived that they committed the identified eighteen errors infrequently. Thought error was perceived to be the main source of error during the laboratory programming exercises. Factor analysis showed that there were five categories for the types of errors committed. Four of them were symbol- or keyword-related errors (Invalid symbols or keywords, Mismatched symbols, Missing symbols, and Excessive symbols) and the fifth one was Naming-related error (Inappropriate naming error). Regression analysis showed that Sensorimotor and Habit errors, together with Knowledge error, were found to predict Mismatched symbols and Missing symbols errors, respectively. Knowledge error was found to be the consistent source of the five types of errors. Thus, the null hypothesis stating that sources of errors do not predict errors committed by novice Java programmers is partially rejected. The implications of the findings were also discussed.