Computer science students' difficulties with proofs by induction: an exploratory study

Authors:
Irene Polycarpou
Affiliations:
Florida International University, University Park, Miami, FL
Venue:
Proceedings of the 44th annual Southeast regional conference
Year:
2006

Citing 7
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Abstract

Induction is an important concept for computer science and yet students have difficulties understanding it. The current literature on students' difficulties with induction is concerned with difficulties students have while proving a statement by induction. My research focuses on identifying difficulties that students may have prior to proving a statement. In particular, the present paper is concerned with students' understanding of the recursive/inductive definition of the elements the statement is about. My study is contextualized within the undergraduate computer science curriculum, and its results show that students' performance with proofs by induction improves after class instruction, but not as it would be desirable. Moreover, they suggest that students who understand recursive/inductive definitions can successfully perform a proof by induction, while students who do not are either not able to perform proofs by induction, or if they are, they do so mechanically. In addition, students' performance is affected by their past knowledge and experience, as well as the context in which a problem is presented.