Abstract:

We live in such an age that computer technologies and machines are one of the most crucial parts of human beings lives that our need and dependency to them growing exponentially day by day. This leads to increased need of more human power and involvement in programming computers and machines. Despite the increasing need however, studies indicate that number of students that prefers departments regarding computer and machine programming, software developing and engineering is declining. In this direction, it is necessary to examine the factors that are related to computer programming and to investigate the reasons of developments mentioned earlier. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the psychological factors that are thought to be related to computer programming self-efficacy. In order to do that, relationships between computer programming self-efficacy, attitude toward computer programming, psychological resilience and problem solving were investigated by using correlation test and structural equation modeling. Students from four different departments and state universities filled out a questionnaire that contains Computer Programming Self-Efficacy Scale (CPSES), Attitude Scale Toward Computer Programming (ATCP), Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), Social Problem Solving Inventory-Short Form (SPSI-SF) voluntarily and anonymously. As a result of the analyses, it was observed that computer programming self-efficacy was related positively to confidence and motivation in learning computer programming, psychological resilience, positive problem orientation and rationale problem solving, and also it was negatively related to negative problem orientation. The findings were discussed in the light of existing literature.

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