Abstract
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Empirical Software Engineering |
| Early online date | 17 Sep 2018 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 17 Sep 2018 |
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Keywords
- Computer programming
- Program comprehension
- Eye tracking
- Dyslexia
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Eye tracking analysis of computer program comprehension in programmers with dyslexia. / McChesney, Ian; Bond, RR.
In: Empirical Software Engineering, 17.09.2018.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Eye tracking analysis of computer program comprehension in programmers with dyslexia
AU - McChesney, Ian
AU - Bond, RR
PY - 2018/9/17
Y1 - 2018/9/17
N2 - This paper investigates the impact of dyslexia on the reading and comprehension of computer program code. Drawing upon work from the fields of program comprehension, eye tracking, dyslexia, models of reading and dyslexia gaze behaviour, a set of hypotheses is developed with which to investigate potential differences in the gaze behaviour of programmers with dyslexia compared to typical programmers. The hypotheses posit that, in general terms, programmers with dyslexia will show gaze behaviour of longer duration and a greater number of fixations on program features than typical programmers. An experiment is described in which 28 programmers (14 with dyslexia, 14 without dyslexia) were asked to read and explain three simple computer programs. Eye tracking technology is used to capture the gaze behaviour of the programmers. Data analysis suggests that the code reading behaviour of programmers with dyslexia is not what would be expected based on the dyslexia literature relating to natural text. In conjunction with further exploratory analysis, observations are made in relation to spatial differences in how programmers with dyslexia read and scan code. The results show that the gaze behaviour of programmers with dyslexia requires further study to understand effects such as code layout, identifier naming and line length. A possible impact on dyslexia gaze behaviour is from the visual crowding of features in program code which might cause certain program features to receive less attention during a program comprehension task.
AB - This paper investigates the impact of dyslexia on the reading and comprehension of computer program code. Drawing upon work from the fields of program comprehension, eye tracking, dyslexia, models of reading and dyslexia gaze behaviour, a set of hypotheses is developed with which to investigate potential differences in the gaze behaviour of programmers with dyslexia compared to typical programmers. The hypotheses posit that, in general terms, programmers with dyslexia will show gaze behaviour of longer duration and a greater number of fixations on program features than typical programmers. An experiment is described in which 28 programmers (14 with dyslexia, 14 without dyslexia) were asked to read and explain three simple computer programs. Eye tracking technology is used to capture the gaze behaviour of the programmers. Data analysis suggests that the code reading behaviour of programmers with dyslexia is not what would be expected based on the dyslexia literature relating to natural text. In conjunction with further exploratory analysis, observations are made in relation to spatial differences in how programmers with dyslexia read and scan code. The results show that the gaze behaviour of programmers with dyslexia requires further study to understand effects such as code layout, identifier naming and line length. A possible impact on dyslexia gaze behaviour is from the visual crowding of features in program code which might cause certain program features to receive less attention during a program comprehension task.
KW - Computer programming
KW - Program comprehension
KW - Eye tracking
KW - Dyslexia
U2 - 10.1007/s10664-018-9649-y
DO - 10.1007/s10664-018-9649-y
M3 - Article
JO - Empirical Software Engineering
T2 - Empirical Software Engineering
JF - Empirical Software Engineering
SN - 1382-3256
ER -