On 09/04/13 13:47, Steven D'Aprano wrote:
Since when did 30 become a representative sample size?
If they are randomly selected, 30 is likely plenty for a representative
sample size. In surveys, a sample size of 30 gives you a margin of error
of about 15%, which isn't too bad.
Hmm, if I'd gone to my manager (and especially the finance director)
with a project proposal based on assumptions with a 15% margin they'd
have thrown me out. And if I told them I'd developed 5 key assumptions
based on that same proposal I'd probably have been fired! I'd be looking
for something like 300+ samples for a project like this to claim that my
5 key principles were valid. And its not like there is a shortage of
computer scientists to ask (although admittedly harder to find ones with
no formal computer training)!
1) it is likely to be a biased selection
My suspicion is they just asked around their local department!
But maybe I'm just overly suspicious...
2) both computer scientists and educators are prone to fashions, and
Java is one such fashion.
I don't care about the language since their 5 principles of learning are
language independent. It was the idea that you could define 5 key
principles needed to learn to program from a sample size of 30...
If they came to me to peer review that I'd have been telling them to go
back and do a bigger survey!
--
Alan G
Author of the Learn to Program web site
http://www.alan-g.me.uk/
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