Predictors of competence in coding

[Jeff Corey]

A friend in Computer Science wants to know if anyone is familiar with any predictors for student competence in computer coding.
He feels that math and quantitative science background may be key, but would like to know if there are any data out there.
Can anyone suggest some references?

 

[Andonyx]

A friend in Computer Science wants to know if anyone is familiar with any predictors for student competence in computer coding.
He feels that math and quantitative science background may be key, but would like to know if there are any data out there.
Can anyone suggest some references?

Crud. I applied for a job at a company that makes financial software years ago, and the first thing they did was have everyone take a two hour SAT like test that was supposed to do just that.

I passed, and then had three interviews..., long process.

The test consisted of a lot of basic algebra, some word porblems, and a few reading comprehension deals....

Crud, if only I could remember the test...or the company for that matter.

But apparently they exist. Now how good they are...that's another matter.

 

[whim]

I have heard of a study that purported to show a correlation between the abitlity to play a musical instrument and the ability to code well. (Sorry, don't have any pointers to said study...)

 

[Supercharts]

I have heard of a study that purported to show a correlation between the abitlity to play a musical instrument and the ability to code well. (Sorry, don't have any pointers to said study...)

I agree and I cannot offer a source.
In the early days of IT/IS there were not enough programmers to fill all the slots so many companies started internal schools to train their own.
IBM used to recruit those graduates who had a foreign language background. One of the best instructors had a degree in French Lit.
So, for a time, it was knowledge of a foreign language or math.

Then my manager, at the time, and I discussed how a lot of the best programmer were musicians. We wondered why and sort of came up with the idea that if you could read music then the symbolism of a programming language was easier to understand. In those olden days programming was pretty abstract - APL, for instance. There was no study at the time that I can recall now that actually based our supposition on research but it was just our own observation.

I've hired many SWEs over the years. The very best programmer I ever hired had a degree in music from some university in Texas. I gave him a book (Werth) on Pascal and in three weeks he was an expert. [I think he majored in brass band instruments and jazz]. Many Asian students I hired also took piano lessons as children.

So, I don't know of any study - just my experience.

 

[arcticpenguin]

I have heard of a study that purported to show a correlation between the abitlity to play a musical instrument and the ability to code well. (Sorry, don't have any pointers to said study...)

I present myself as evidence against.

 

[alfaniner]

I present myself as evidence against.

Seconded. (I'm a great programmer/analyst, but have a terrible time sight reading music. However, give me a key signature and I can transpose to any other key, given time.)

 

[shanek]

I have heard of a study that purported to show a correlation between the abitlity to play a musical instrument and the ability to code well. (Sorry, don't have any pointers to said study...)

Music is an expression of binary math. The powers of two permeate throughour just about every aspect of music theory. It makes perfect sense to me that someone who learns music should be able to code. I play several instruments myself. And most of the coders I know play at least one instrument.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

The company I work for gives all of its applicants for programming jobs a test that they feel shows whether someone has "the right type of mind" as my boss put it. It consists mostly of logic and complicated pattern recognition problems.

I obviously passed it, I guess it's up to other people to judge how competant I am. My bosses seem to like my work so I guess I am okay at it.

 

[Jeff Corey]

If this were over on the Paranormal Feces page, Claus Flodin Larsen would be whipping you all with a limp prune Danish. Anecdotes?
We need some evidence.
Come on. The question is, "You got any refences or links to any data on ways to select for undergrads to learn code?"
I would guess that one way would to be to ask them, "Wanna learn how to code?"
If they said, "Huh?" or "What?" or nothing, I'd go on to the next applicant.
If they said, "Kool" or "Surely, you jest." I'd proceed further.

 

[mickky]

I've wondered if there was a correlation between Math/Musical ability for a long time.

My oldest brother was/is a musician for many years and could do high school math when in elementary school.

He's now a programmer. Totally anecdotal, but interesting, none the less...










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