EXPLORATORY EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES COMPARING ONLINE AND OFFLINE PROGRAMING PERFORMANCE
Abstract
Two exploratory experiments compared debugging performance of programers working under conditions of online and offline access to a computer. These are the first known studies measuring the performance of programers under controlled conditions for standard tasks. Statistically significant results indicated substantially faster debugging under online conditions in both studies. The results were ambiguous for central processor time--one study showed less computer time for debugging, and the other showed more time in the online mode. Perhaps the most important practical finding, overshadowing online/offline differences, involves the large and striking individual differences in programer performance. Attempts were made to relate observed individual differences to objective measures of programer experience and proficiency through factorial techniques. In line with the exploratory objectives of these studies, methodological problems encountered in designing and conducting these types of experiments are described, limitations of the findings are pointed out, hypotheses are presented to account for results, and suggestions are made for further research.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 20, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0645438
Entities
People
- E. E. Grant
- H. Sackman
- W. J. Erikson
Organizations
- System Development Corporation