Twentieth International Conference on Technology, Knowledge, and Society

Abstract

In developing computer program using different programming languages, understanding its syntax and semantics is a must for an aspiring programmer. Difficulty is encountered by the one who tries create a computer program without understanding semantics and syntax in the keywords of specific programming language. This study focuses on analyzing which of the identified problems as experienced by the students enrolled in computer programming and object-oriented programming during the first semester of academic year 2022-2023. In relation to the semantics and syntax of a programming language, this research utilized the 6 sections of students where 4 sections are enrolled in computer programming and the other 2 sections in an object-oriented programming subject about the main reasons that have caused difficulty on their understanding of the programming language. First, is it about understanding the concepts and semantics, or is it about understanding and implementing the syntax of the programming keywords or both? The main objective of this research is to find out which from the identified problems as experienced by the majority of the students is the main reason that makes it difficult for them to write computer programs; and to know if the first identified problem has a significant effect on the second identified problem.