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arXiv · 2402.05339

Can participation in a hackathon impact the motivation of software engineering students? A preliminary case study analysis

Allysson Allex Araújo·Marcos Kalinowski·Maria Teresa Baldassarre
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Abstract

[Background] Hackathons are increasingly gaining prominence in Software Engineering (SE) education, lauded for their ability to elevate students' skill sets. [Objective] This paper investigates whether hackathons can impact the motivation of SE students. [Method] We conducted an evaluative case study assessing students' motivations before and after a hackathon, combining quantitative analysis using the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS) and qualitative coding of open-ended responses. [Results] Pre-hackathon findings reveal a diverse range of motivations with an overall acceptance, while post-hackathon responses highlight no statistically significant shift in participants' perceptions. Qualitative findings uncovered themes related to networking, team dynamics, and skill development. From a practical perspective, our findings highlight the potential of hackathons to impact participants' motivation. [Conclusion] While our study enhances the comprehension of hackathons as a motivational tool, it also underscores the need for further exploration of psychometric dimensions in SE educational research.

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Allysson Allex Araújo, Marcos Kalinowski, Maria Teresa Baldassarre. 2024-02-08. Can participation in a hackathon impact the motivation of software engineering students? A preliminary case study analysis. https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.05339

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