Misconceptions in introductory programming: is there an association with sociodemographic profile?

• Victor Araújo Passos UFAM
• Airton Nascimento Silveira Filho UFAM
• Fabíola Guerra Nakamura UFAM
• Elaine Harada Teixeira Oliveira UFAM
• David Fernandes Oliveira UFAM
• Leandro Silva Galvão Carvalho UFAM

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5753/wei.2025.9417

Abstract

Understanding the challenges faced by novice programming students is crucial to improving education in the field. This study examines the relationship between programming misconceptions and the sociodemographic profiles of university students whose courses are not directly related to the field of computing. Using data from online judges, code patterns and their associations with variables such as students’ academic background, prior experience, and performance were analyzed. The results indicate preliminary significant differences in the occurrence of misconceptions among different profiles. These findings, though limited, highlight the importance of tailored pedagogical strategies for student profiles, pending validation in future studies with larger samples and automated analysis methods.

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