Clustering Analysis of Attitudes of Prospective Computer Programmers towards Programming
Keywords:
Computer Programming, Cluster Analysis, Attitude, Hierarchical ClusteringAbstract
This study aims to determine the clustering tendency of
attitude variables of the students studying at computer programming
department regarding computer programming. The study secondly
aims to inspect whether factors such as gender, grade and type of
education have an influence on the clusters obtained from the analysis.
The study is conducted in fall semester of 2013-2014 academic year. The
sample of the study consists of 947 students from 12 universities in
different regions of Turkey. “Attitude Measure Regarding Computer
Programming “is used as a data collecting tool. Clustering tendency of
attitude variables are determined by hierarchical clustering analysis.
Independent t-test is used to determine whether gender, grade and type
of education influence these clusters. Attitude variables of the students
are collected under six clusters. It has been seen that gender factor has
an important effect on three clusters and, grade factor has an important
effect on four clusters. Type of education factor has no statistically
important effect on these clusters.
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