Redesigning R Documentation to Support Novice Learning: A Qualitative Interview

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session Ten
  In Roundtable Session: Postsecondary Students in Computing and Engineering Education (Table 7)

Abstract

Current R documentation is not necessarily designed for novices. Its design may overload their working memory and hinder the transfer from existing knowledge to novel situations. We implemented subtle design changes on the documentation and interviewed novices using the think-aloud technique to conduct a cognitive analysis on features that hindered their learning. We made three design changes: 1) put helpful examples on the top and descriptions and arguments at the end. 2) reordered examples from simple to complex in a tabular format. 3) presented visual output beside the example code. The study found that the redesigned documentation could facilitate novices’ use of the mapping strategy, aid their understanding of codes, and receive more positive reactions from novices.

Authors

• Yunqi Jia, University of California - Los Angeles
  Presenting Author

• Icy Yunyi Zhang, University of California - Los Angeles
  Non-Presenting Author

• Xiaoxuan Cheng, Harvard University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Ji Son
  Non-Presenting Author