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arXiv · 2312.11719

How Far Are We? The Triumphs and Trials of Generative AI in Learning Software Engineering

Rudrajit Choudhuri·Dylan Liu·Igor Steinmacher·Marco Gerosa·Anita Sarma
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Abstract

Conversational Generative AI (convo-genAI) is revolutionizing Software Engineering (SE) as engineers and academics embrace this technology in their work. However, there is a gap in understanding the current potential and pitfalls of this technology, specifically in supporting students in SE tasks. In this work, we evaluate through a between-subjects study (N=22) the effectiveness of ChatGPT, a convo-genAI platform, in assisting students in SE tasks. Our study did not find statistical differences in participants' productivity or self-efficacy when using ChatGPT as compared to traditional resources, but we found significantly increased frustration levels. Our study also revealed 5 distinct faults arising from violations of Human-AI interaction guidelines, which led to 7 different (negative) consequences on participants.

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Rudrajit Choudhuri, Dylan Liu, Igor Steinmacher, Marco Gerosa, Anita Sarma. 2023-12-18. How Far Are We? The Triumphs and Trials of Generative AI in Learning Software Engineering. https://arxiv.org/abs/2312.11719

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