The Study of Learning Computer Programming for Students with Medical Fields of Specification—An Analysis via Structural Equation Modeling

Ching-Hsiang Lai, Yan-Kwang Chen, Ya-huei Wang and Hung-Chang Liao
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Ching-Hsiang Lai: Department of Medical Informatics, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
Yan-Kwang Chen: Department of Distribution Management, National Taichung University of Science and Technology, Taichung 40401, Taiwan
Ya-huei Wang: Department of Applied Foreign Languages, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
Hung-Chang Liao: Department of Health Policy and Management, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 10, 1-17

Abstract: In this study, the authors constructed structural equation models in order to determine the relationship between students’ learning attitudes and their computational thinking perspectives and programming empowerment. The purpose is to understand students’ perceived competence to use computational thinking effectively, along with their computer programming learning attitude regarding the C++ programming language for one semester (2 hours per week, 36 total learning hours). A total of 495 students specializing in the medical field participated in the study. Structural equation models were constructed according to three adapted scales: the computer programming learning attitude scale, the computational thinking perspectives scale, and the programming empowerment scale. The computer programming learning attitude scale is based on three factors: willingness, negativity, and necessity. The computational thinking perspectives scale also considers three factors: the ability to express, the ability to connect, and the ability to question. The programming empowerment scale is composed of four factors: meaningfulness, impact, creative self-efficacy, and programming self-efficacy. The results showed that a positive learning attitude will positively affect computational thinking perspectives and programming empowerment. However, when students have a negativity attitude, feeling that they are being forced to learn the C++ programming language, their computational thinking perspectives and programming empowerment will be negatively affected. In order to promote students’ learning attitude, various teaching strategies, teaching curriculum design, and pedagogy design could be further explored.

Keywords: computer programming learning attitude (CPLA); computational thinking (CT) perspectives; programming empowerment (PE); structural equation modeling (SEM) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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