Uldis Straujums

SMOTL—A System to Construct Samples for Data Processing Program Debugging

The possibility of automatic construction of a complete set of program tests is considered. A test set system is said to be complete if every feasible program branch (segment) is executed by it. The complete test set construction algorithm for commercially oriented data processing programs is outlined, and the results of its functioning on real programs are analyzed.

Requirements Model of Sociotechnical Systems Simulator Architecture

To avoid any voluntary decisions it is desirable to examine the possible consequences that can be done by simulation. Unfortunately there is no unified methodology and technology for simulators designing. Above mentioned problem when development of each simulator has to be started from the scratches makes elaboration expensive and cumbersome. The article dealt with the way to joint understanding of simulators designing concept.

Transformation of the Software Testing Glossary into a Browsable Concept Map

Authors propose a transformation method of the glossary “Standard glossary of terms used in Software Testing” created by ISTQB document into a basic concept map. By applying natural language processing techniques and analyzing the discovered relations between concepts the most essential aspects of the software testing domain are elicited and integrated. As the result a browsable concept map is created. Browsable concept map can be used as a learning support tool.

Can SQ and EQ Values and Their Difference Indicate Programming Aptitude to Reduce Dropout Rate

A crucial problem that we are currently facing at the Faculty of Computing of the University of Latvia is that during the first study semester on average 30% of the first-year students drop out, whereas after the first year of studies the number of dropouts increases up to nearly 50%. Thus, our overall goal is to determine in advance applicants that most likely will not finish the first study year successfully. A hypothesis formulated in another research study was that programming aptitude could be predicted based on the results of two personality self-report questionnaires − Systemizing Quotient (SQ) and Empathy Quotient (EQ) − taken by students. The difference between the SQ and EQ scores had a strong correlation with grades received for programming test. We reproduced the circumstances of mentioned empirical study with our first-year students using similar tests to calculate SQ and EQ, and semester grades in introductory programming course as a quantitative measure to evaluate programming ability. In this paper, we elaborate on the empirical setting, measures, and estimation methods of our study, which produced the results that made us call the stated hypothesis into question and disprove it.