Project description

Websites are frequently used to support the development process. Both students and professionals regular resort to search engines and StackOverflow (amongst others) as a means of learning new programming languages, checking syntax, resolving errors etc.

Our prior work has shown that use of online programming content often acts as a reminder for things already known, and that most programmers consider themselves to have a good memory for programming concepts. Neither novice nor professional programmers seem to perceive a negative impact on memory from their use of the web. However, prior research in general knowledge domains suggests that there *are* impacts to memory from looking up information online, and one study has found these effects specifically in the context of programming concepts.

This project would therefore explore the effect of web use on memory for programming concepts.

A possible roadmap for this PhD may look something like:

* Year 1: A literature review to familiarise the student with (a) techniques for studying the effects of web use on human memory, (b) current understanding of web-impairment effects, and (c) use of the web during programming activities. Design and execution of a controlled study intended to explore the role of web use on programmers' memory.

* Year 2: Design and execution of a naturalistic study intended to explore the role of web use on programmers' memory .Development and execution of a follow-on study that explores a result from prior studies in greater depth.

* Year 3: Development and preliminary evaluation of guidance/tools to mitigate any negative effects of web use on memory (or to better leverage any positive effects). Writing of thesis (or alternate format submission) for examination.

However the above is not prescriptive, and we encourage all applicants to develop a proposal that is of interest and relevance to themselves (within the general topic area). Collaboration with other departments is possible (e.g. psychology) and you may want to consider appropriate use of technologies such as eye-tracking and EEG (where relevant).

The student should expect to publish their work in the form of academic papers at venues such as IEEE/ACM ICSE, ACM CHI, and Elsevier's Journal of Systems and Software.

This PhD would be attractive to candidates with experience and training in human-computer interaction or other related disciplines (e.g., experimental/cognitive psychology, mobile/pervasive computing). A successful applicant is likely to have demonstrable experience of EITHER experimental design OR software development; they will need to demonstrate both capability and willingness to develop the missing skill.