We Do Not Understand What It Says -- Studying Student Perceptions of Software Modelling Article Swipe

PDF

YOU? · · 2022 · Open Access · · DOI: https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2207.13829

Background: Despite the potential benefits of software modelling, developers have shown a considerable reluctance towards its application. There is substantial existing research studying industrial use and technical challenges of modelling. However, there is a lack of detailed empirical work investigating how students perceive modelling. Aim: We investigate the perceptions of students towards modelling in a university environment. Method: We conducted a multiple case study with 5 cases (5 courses from 3 universities) and two units of analysis (student and instructor). We collected data through 21 semi-structured interviews, which we analysed using in-vivo coding and thematic analysis. Results: Students see some benefits of modelling, e.g., using models for planning and communicating within the group. However, several factors negatively influence their understanding of modelling, e.g., assignments with unclear expectations, irregular and insufficient feedback on their models, and lack of experience with the problem domains. Conclusions: Our findings help in understanding better why students struggle with software modelling, and might be reluctant to adopt it later on. This could help to improve education and training in software modelling, both at university and in industry. Specifically, we recommend that educators try to provide feedback beyond syntactical issues, and to consider using problem domains that students are knowledgeable about.

Related Topics

Mechanical Engineering

Philosophy

Concepts

Thematic analysis Perception Software Coding (social sciences) Computer science Work (physics) Empirical research Data science Knowledge management Software engineering Psychology Medical education Qualitative research Engineering Sociology Social science Epistemology Medicine Programming language Neuroscience Mechanical engineering Philosophy

Metadata

Type: preprint
Language: en
Landing Page: http://arxiv.org/abs/2207.13829
PDF: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2207.13829
OA Status: green
Related Works: 10
OpenAlex ID: https://openalex.org/W4288804828

All OpenAlex metadata

Raw OpenAlex JSON

OpenAlex ID: https://openalex.org/W4288804828

Canonical identifier for this work in OpenAlex
DOI: https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2207.13829

Digital Object Identifier
Title: We Do Not Understand What It Says -- Studying Student Perceptions of Software Modelling

Work title
Type: preprint

OpenAlex work type
Language: en

Primary language
Publication year: 2022

Year of publication
Publication date: 2022-07-27

Full publication date if available
Authors: Shalini Chakraborty, Grischa Liebel

List of authors in order
Landing page: https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.13829

Publisher landing page
PDF URL: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2207.13829

Direct link to full text PDF
Open access: Yes

Whether a free full text is available
OA status: green

Open access status per OpenAlex
OA URL: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2207.13829

Direct OA link when available
Concepts: Thematic analysis, Perception, Software, Coding (social sciences), Computer science, Work (physics), Empirical research, Data science, Knowledge management, Software engineering, Psychology, Medical education, Qualitative research, Engineering, Sociology, Social science, Epistemology, Medicine, Programming language, Neuroscience, Mechanical engineering, Philosophy

Top concepts (fields/topics) attached by OpenAlex
Cited by: 0

Total citation count in OpenAlex
Related works (count): 10

Other works algorithmically related by OpenAlex

Full payload

id	https://openalex.org/W4288804828
doi	https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2207.13829
ids.doi	https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2207.13829
ids.openalex	https://openalex.org/W4288804828
fwci
type	preprint
title	We Do Not Understand What It Says -- Studying Student Perceptions of Software Modelling
biblio.issue
biblio.volume
biblio.last_page
biblio.first_page
topics[0].id	https://openalex.org/T10430
topics[0].field.id	https://openalex.org/fields/17
topics[0].field.display_name	Computer Science
topics[0].score	0.9994000196456909
topics[0].domain.id	https://openalex.org/domains/3
topics[0].domain.display_name	Physical Sciences
topics[0].subfield.id	https://openalex.org/subfields/1710
topics[0].subfield.display_name	Information Systems
topics[0].display_name	Software Engineering Techniques and Practices
topics[1].id	https://openalex.org/T10260
topics[1].field.id	https://openalex.org/fields/17
topics[1].field.display_name	Computer Science
topics[1].score	0.9990000128746033
topics[1].domain.id	https://openalex.org/domains/3
topics[1].domain.display_name	Physical Sciences
topics[1].subfield.id	https://openalex.org/subfields/1710
topics[1].subfield.display_name	Information Systems
topics[1].display_name	Software Engineering Research
topics[2].id	https://openalex.org/T11450
topics[2].field.id	https://openalex.org/fields/17
topics[2].field.display_name	Computer Science
topics[2].score	0.9950000047683716
topics[2].domain.id	https://openalex.org/domains/3
topics[2].domain.display_name	Physical Sciences
topics[2].subfield.id	https://openalex.org/subfields/1712
topics[2].subfield.display_name	Software
topics[2].display_name	Model-Driven Software Engineering Techniques
is_xpac	False
apc_list
apc_paid
concepts[0].id	https://openalex.org/C74196892
concepts[0].level	3
concepts[0].score	0.7913065552711487
concepts[0].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7781188
concepts[0].display_name	Thematic analysis
concepts[1].id	https://openalex.org/C26760741
concepts[1].level	2
concepts[1].score	0.6569338440895081
concepts[1].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q160402
concepts[1].display_name	Perception
concepts[2].id	https://openalex.org/C2777904410
concepts[2].level	2
concepts[2].score	0.5973420739173889
concepts[2].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7397
concepts[2].display_name	Software
concepts[3].id	https://openalex.org/C179518139
concepts[3].level	2
concepts[3].score	0.5871564149856567
concepts[3].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5140297
concepts[3].display_name	Coding (social sciences)
concepts[4].id	https://openalex.org/C41008148
concepts[4].level	0
concepts[4].score	0.5535175204277039
concepts[4].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198
concepts[4].display_name	Computer science
concepts[5].id	https://openalex.org/C18762648
concepts[5].level	2
concepts[5].score	0.48080387711524963
concepts[5].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q42213
concepts[5].display_name	Work (physics)
concepts[6].id	https://openalex.org/C120936955
concepts[6].level	2
concepts[6].score	0.47146230936050415
concepts[6].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2155640
concepts[6].display_name	Empirical research
concepts[7].id	https://openalex.org/C2522767166
concepts[7].level	1
concepts[7].score	0.3811642527580261
concepts[7].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2374463
concepts[7].display_name	Data science
concepts[8].id	https://openalex.org/C56739046
concepts[8].level	1
concepts[8].score	0.3804068863391876
concepts[8].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q192060
concepts[8].display_name	Knowledge management
concepts[9].id	https://openalex.org/C115903868
concepts[9].level	1
concepts[9].score	0.37568211555480957
concepts[9].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q80993
concepts[9].display_name	Software engineering
concepts[10].id	https://openalex.org/C15744967
concepts[10].level	0
concepts[10].score	0.3419485092163086
concepts[10].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9418
concepts[10].display_name	Psychology
concepts[11].id	https://openalex.org/C509550671
concepts[11].level	1
concepts[11].score	0.33285170793533325
concepts[11].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q126945
concepts[11].display_name	Medical education
concepts[12].id	https://openalex.org/C190248442
concepts[12].level	2
concepts[12].score	0.2994825839996338
concepts[12].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q839486
concepts[12].display_name	Qualitative research
concepts[13].id	https://openalex.org/C127413603
concepts[13].level	0
concepts[13].score	0.1968477964401245
concepts[13].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11023
concepts[13].display_name	Engineering
concepts[14].id	https://openalex.org/C144024400
concepts[14].level	0
concepts[14].score	0.11337924003601074
concepts[14].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21201
concepts[14].display_name	Sociology
concepts[15].id	https://openalex.org/C36289849
concepts[15].level	1
concepts[15].score	0.0
concepts[15].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34749
concepts[15].display_name	Social science
concepts[16].id	https://openalex.org/C111472728
concepts[16].level	1
concepts[16].score	0.0
concepts[16].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9471
concepts[16].display_name	Epistemology
concepts[17].id	https://openalex.org/C71924100
concepts[17].level	0
concepts[17].score	0.0
concepts[17].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11190
concepts[17].display_name	Medicine
concepts[18].id	https://openalex.org/C199360897
concepts[18].level	1
concepts[18].score	0.0
concepts[18].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9143
concepts[18].display_name	Programming language
concepts[19].id	https://openalex.org/C169760540
concepts[19].level	1
concepts[19].score	0.0
concepts[19].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207011
concepts[19].display_name	Neuroscience
concepts[20].id	https://openalex.org/C78519656
concepts[20].level	1
concepts[20].score	0.0
concepts[20].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q101333
concepts[20].display_name	Mechanical engineering
concepts[21].id	https://openalex.org/C138885662
concepts[21].level	0
concepts[21].score	0.0
concepts[21].wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5891
concepts[21].display_name	Philosophy
keywords[0].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/thematic-analysis
keywords[0].score	0.7913065552711487
keywords[0].display_name	Thematic analysis
keywords[1].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/perception
keywords[1].score	0.6569338440895081
keywords[1].display_name	Perception
keywords[2].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/software
keywords[2].score	0.5973420739173889
keywords[2].display_name	Software
keywords[3].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/coding
keywords[3].score	0.5871564149856567
keywords[3].display_name	Coding (social sciences)
keywords[4].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/computer-science
keywords[4].score	0.5535175204277039
keywords[4].display_name	Computer science
keywords[5].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/work
keywords[5].score	0.48080387711524963
keywords[5].display_name	Work (physics)
keywords[6].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/empirical-research
keywords[6].score	0.47146230936050415
keywords[6].display_name	Empirical research
keywords[7].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/data-science
keywords[7].score	0.3811642527580261
keywords[7].display_name	Data science
keywords[8].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/knowledge-management
keywords[8].score	0.3804068863391876
keywords[8].display_name	Knowledge management
keywords[9].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/software-engineering
keywords[9].score	0.37568211555480957
keywords[9].display_name	Software engineering
keywords[10].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/psychology
keywords[10].score	0.3419485092163086
keywords[10].display_name	Psychology
keywords[11].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/medical-education
keywords[11].score	0.33285170793533325
keywords[11].display_name	Medical education
keywords[12].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/qualitative-research
keywords[12].score	0.2994825839996338
keywords[12].display_name	Qualitative research
keywords[13].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/engineering
keywords[13].score	0.1968477964401245
keywords[13].display_name	Engineering
keywords[14].id	https://openalex.org/keywords/sociology
keywords[14].score	0.11337924003601074
keywords[14].display_name	Sociology
language	en
locations[0].id	pmh:oai:arXiv.org:2207.13829
locations[0].is_oa	True
locations[0].source.id	https://openalex.org/S4306400194
locations[0].source.issn
locations[0].source.type	repository
locations[0].source.is_oa	True
locations[0].source.issn_l
locations[0].source.is_core	False
locations[0].source.is_in_doaj	False
locations[0].source.display_name	arXiv (Cornell University)
locations[0].source.host_organization	https://openalex.org/I205783295
locations[0].source.host_organization_name	Cornell University
locations[0].source.host_organization_lineage	https://openalex.org/I205783295
locations[0].license
locations[0].pdf_url	https://arxiv.org/pdf/2207.13829
locations[0].version	submittedVersion
locations[0].raw_type	text
locations[0].license_id
locations[0].is_accepted	False
locations[0].is_published	False
locations[0].raw_source_name
locations[0].landing_page_url	http://arxiv.org/abs/2207.13829
locations[1].id	doi:10.48550/arxiv.2207.13829
locations[1].is_oa	True
locations[1].source.id	https://openalex.org/S4306400194
locations[1].source.issn
locations[1].source.type	repository
locations[1].source.is_oa	True
locations[1].source.issn_l
locations[1].source.is_core	False
locations[1].source.is_in_doaj	False
locations[1].source.display_name	arXiv (Cornell University)
locations[1].source.host_organization	https://openalex.org/I205783295
locations[1].source.host_organization_name	Cornell University
locations[1].source.host_organization_lineage	https://openalex.org/I205783295
locations[1].license	cc-by
locations[1].pdf_url
locations[1].version
locations[1].raw_type	article
locations[1].license_id	https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by
locations[1].is_accepted	False
locations[1].is_published
locations[1].raw_source_name
locations[1].landing_page_url	https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2207.13829
indexed_in	arxiv, datacite
authorships[0].author.id	https://openalex.org/A5101064977
authorships[0].author.orcid
authorships[0].author.display_name	Shalini Chakraborty
authorships[0].author_position	first
authorships[0].raw_author_name	Chakraborty, Shalini
authorships[0].is_corresponding	False
authorships[1].author.id	https://openalex.org/A5042863450
authorships[1].author.orcid	https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3884-815X
authorships[1].author.display_name	Grischa Liebel
authorships[1].author_position	last
authorships[1].raw_author_name	Liebel, Grischa
authorships[1].is_corresponding	False
has_content.pdf	False
has_content.grobid_xml	False
is_paratext	False
open_access.is_oa	True
open_access.oa_url	https://arxiv.org/pdf/2207.13829
open_access.oa_status	green
open_access.any_repository_has_fulltext	False
created_date	2022-07-30T00:00:00
display_name	We Do Not Understand What It Says -- Studying Student Perceptions of Software Modelling
has_fulltext	False
is_retracted	False
updated_date	2025-11-06T06:51:31.235846
primary_topic.id	https://openalex.org/T10430
primary_topic.field.id	https://openalex.org/fields/17
primary_topic.field.display_name	Computer Science
primary_topic.score	0.9994000196456909
primary_topic.domain.id	https://openalex.org/domains/3
primary_topic.domain.display_name	Physical Sciences
primary_topic.subfield.id	https://openalex.org/subfields/1710
primary_topic.subfield.display_name	Information Systems
primary_topic.display_name	Software Engineering Techniques and Practices
related_works	https://openalex.org/W2896391874, https://openalex.org/W1994256903, https://openalex.org/W3196787553, https://openalex.org/W2369033652, https://openalex.org/W1979290264, https://openalex.org/W4389638854, https://openalex.org/W4296129716, https://openalex.org/W4313137514, https://openalex.org/W2776699744, https://openalex.org/W2767254241
cited_by_count	0
locations_count	2
best_oa_location.id	pmh:oai:arXiv.org:2207.13829
best_oa_location.is_oa	True
best_oa_location.source.id	https://openalex.org/S4306400194
best_oa_location.source.issn
best_oa_location.source.type	repository
best_oa_location.source.is_oa	True
best_oa_location.source.issn_l
best_oa_location.source.is_core	False
best_oa_location.source.is_in_doaj	False
best_oa_location.source.display_name	arXiv (Cornell University)
best_oa_location.source.host_organization	https://openalex.org/I205783295
best_oa_location.source.host_organization_name	Cornell University
best_oa_location.source.host_organization_lineage	https://openalex.org/I205783295
best_oa_location.license
best_oa_location.pdf_url	https://arxiv.org/pdf/2207.13829
best_oa_location.version	submittedVersion
best_oa_location.raw_type	text
best_oa_location.license_id
best_oa_location.is_accepted	False
best_oa_location.is_published	False
best_oa_location.raw_source_name
best_oa_location.landing_page_url	http://arxiv.org/abs/2207.13829
primary_location.id	pmh:oai:arXiv.org:2207.13829
primary_location.is_oa	True
primary_location.source.id	https://openalex.org/S4306400194
primary_location.source.issn
primary_location.source.type	repository
primary_location.source.is_oa	True
primary_location.source.issn_l
primary_location.source.is_core	False
primary_location.source.is_in_doaj	False
primary_location.source.display_name	arXiv (Cornell University)
primary_location.source.host_organization	https://openalex.org/I205783295
primary_location.source.host_organization_name	Cornell University
primary_location.source.host_organization_lineage	https://openalex.org/I205783295
primary_location.license
primary_location.pdf_url	https://arxiv.org/pdf/2207.13829
primary_location.version	submittedVersion
primary_location.raw_type	text
primary_location.license_id
primary_location.is_accepted	False
primary_location.is_published	False
primary_location.raw_source_name
primary_location.landing_page_url	http://arxiv.org/abs/2207.13829
publication_date	2022-07-27
publication_year	2022
referenced_works_count	0
abstract_inverted_index.3	70
abstract_inverted_index.5	65
abstract_inverted_index.a	11, 33, 54, 60
abstract_inverted_index.(5	67
abstract_inverted_index.21	84
abstract_inverted_index.We	45, 58, 80
abstract_inverted_index.at	176
abstract_inverted_index.be	157
abstract_inverted_index.in	53, 146, 172, 179
abstract_inverted_index.is	18, 32
abstract_inverted_index.it	161
abstract_inverted_index.of	5, 28, 35, 49, 75, 101, 120, 136
abstract_inverted_index.on	131
abstract_inverted_index.to	159, 167, 187, 194
abstract_inverted_index.we	88, 182
abstract_inverted_index.Our	143
abstract_inverted_index.and	25, 72, 78, 93, 108, 128, 134, 155, 170, 178, 193
abstract_inverted_index.are	201
abstract_inverted_index.for	106
abstract_inverted_index.how	40
abstract_inverted_index.its	15
abstract_inverted_index.on.	163
abstract_inverted_index.see	98
abstract_inverted_index.the	2, 47, 111, 139
abstract_inverted_index.try	186
abstract_inverted_index.two	73
abstract_inverted_index.use	24
abstract_inverted_index.why	149
abstract_inverted_index.Aim:	44
abstract_inverted_index.This	164
abstract_inverted_index.both	175
abstract_inverted_index.case	62
abstract_inverted_index.data	82
abstract_inverted_index.from	69
abstract_inverted_index.have	9
abstract_inverted_index.help	145, 166
abstract_inverted_index.lack	34, 135
abstract_inverted_index.some	99
abstract_inverted_index.that	184, 199
abstract_inverted_index.with	64, 124, 138, 152
abstract_inverted_index.work	38
abstract_inverted_index.There	17
abstract_inverted_index.adopt	160
abstract_inverted_index.cases	66
abstract_inverted_index.could	165
abstract_inverted_index.e.g.,	103, 122
abstract_inverted_index.later	162
abstract_inverted_index.might	156
abstract_inverted_index.shown	10
abstract_inverted_index.study	63
abstract_inverted_index.their	118, 132
abstract_inverted_index.there	31
abstract_inverted_index.units	74
abstract_inverted_index.using	90, 104, 196
abstract_inverted_index.which	87
abstract_inverted_index.about.	203
abstract_inverted_index.better	148
abstract_inverted_index.beyond	190
abstract_inverted_index.coding	92
abstract_inverted_index.group.	112
abstract_inverted_index.models	105
abstract_inverted_index.within	110
abstract_inverted_index.Despite	1
abstract_inverted_index.Method:	57
abstract_inverted_index.courses	68
abstract_inverted_index.domains	198
abstract_inverted_index.factors	115
abstract_inverted_index.improve	168
abstract_inverted_index.in-vivo	91
abstract_inverted_index.issues,	192
abstract_inverted_index.models,	133
abstract_inverted_index.problem	140, 197
abstract_inverted_index.provide	188
abstract_inverted_index.several	114
abstract_inverted_index.through	83
abstract_inverted_index.towards	14, 51
abstract_inverted_index.unclear	125
abstract_inverted_index.(student	77
abstract_inverted_index.However,	30, 113
abstract_inverted_index.Results:	96
abstract_inverted_index.Students	97
abstract_inverted_index.analysed	89
abstract_inverted_index.analysis	76
abstract_inverted_index.benefits	4, 100
abstract_inverted_index.consider	195
abstract_inverted_index.detailed	36
abstract_inverted_index.domains.	141
abstract_inverted_index.existing	20
abstract_inverted_index.feedback	130, 189
abstract_inverted_index.findings	144
abstract_inverted_index.multiple	61
abstract_inverted_index.perceive	42
abstract_inverted_index.planning	107
abstract_inverted_index.research	21
abstract_inverted_index.software	6, 153, 173
abstract_inverted_index.struggle	151
abstract_inverted_index.students	41, 50, 150, 200
abstract_inverted_index.studying	22
abstract_inverted_index.thematic	94
abstract_inverted_index.training	171
abstract_inverted_index.analysis.	95
abstract_inverted_index.collected	81
abstract_inverted_index.conducted	59
abstract_inverted_index.education	169
abstract_inverted_index.educators	185
abstract_inverted_index.empirical	37
abstract_inverted_index.industry.	180
abstract_inverted_index.influence	117
abstract_inverted_index.irregular	127
abstract_inverted_index.modelling	52
abstract_inverted_index.potential	3
abstract_inverted_index.recommend	183
abstract_inverted_index.reluctant	158
abstract_inverted_index.technical	26
abstract_inverted_index.challenges	27
abstract_inverted_index.developers	8
abstract_inverted_index.experience	137
abstract_inverted_index.industrial	23
abstract_inverted_index.modelling,	7, 102, 121, 154, 174
abstract_inverted_index.modelling.	29, 43
abstract_inverted_index.negatively	116
abstract_inverted_index.reluctance	13
abstract_inverted_index.university	55, 177
abstract_inverted_index.Background:	0
abstract_inverted_index.assignments	123
abstract_inverted_index.interviews,	86
abstract_inverted_index.investigate	46
abstract_inverted_index.perceptions	48
abstract_inverted_index.substantial	19
abstract_inverted_index.syntactical	191
abstract_inverted_index.Conclusions:	142
abstract_inverted_index.application.	16
abstract_inverted_index.considerable	12
abstract_inverted_index.environment.	56
abstract_inverted_index.instructor).	79
abstract_inverted_index.insufficient	129
abstract_inverted_index.Specifically,	181
abstract_inverted_index.communicating	109
abstract_inverted_index.expectations,	126
abstract_inverted_index.investigating	39
abstract_inverted_index.knowledgeable	202
abstract_inverted_index.understanding	119, 147
abstract_inverted_index.universities)	71
abstract_inverted_index.semi-structured	85
cited_by_percentile_year
countries_distinct_count	0
institutions_distinct_count	2
citation_normalized_percentile