Computer Science Education Research at the Crossroads

"I believe that most people who are active in CSEd research should read [Computer Science Education Research at the Crossroads]." Raymond Lister, SIGCSE Bulletin's education research columnist. In this text, the author, a research methodologist, examines the current research practices in the field of computer science education. Through a content analysis of hundreds of computer science education articles, the author answers the following questions about the state of the research: What variables do computer science education researchers tend to examine? What methods do the use? How do they report their data? What are the latest research trends? This line of meta-research ends with a number of data-based recommendations for improving the state of computer science education research. It is a useful text for anyone who conducts, supervises, or reviews computer science education research.

Justus Randolph, PhD, has worked as a researcher/evaluator in fields such as newborn hearing assessment, school improvement, higher education evaluation, technology-enriched playgrounds, and computing education. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Elementary Education at Finlandia University.