Research Article

The Impact of Solo and Pair Programming Modes on Problem-solving Skills and Motivation: Students' Reflections on Pair Programming

Volume: 15 Number: 3 September 27, 2025
TR EN

The Impact of Solo and Pair Programming Modes on Problem-solving Skills and Motivation: Students' Reflections on Pair Programming

Abstract

This study primarily investigates the effects of solo and pair programming on students’ problem-solving skills and motivation. Additionally, it aims to identify key factors and tensions associated with pair programming based on students’ reflections. An embedded mixed-methods research design was employed. The sample consisted of 42 undergraduate students. Participants in the control group, comprising 19 students, worked individually on computational tasks, while those in the experimental group engaged in the same tasks in pairs. All participants took part in computational thinking activities over seven weeks, structured around game development projects. Data were collected through questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The results indicated no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of overall motivation and problem-solving scores. However, the experimental group scored higher in the sub-dimension related to conceptualizing problems through modeling. Student motivation was found to be high across both groups following the intervention, regardless of the programming mode. After analyzing the qualitative data obtained from five students, a total of 122 codes were identified and categorized under six themes: 'team dynamics', 'task and platform characteristics', 'affective domain', 'cognitive strategies and problem-solving', 'pedagogical framework', and 'roles'. The qualitative findings suggest that the pedagogical benefits of pair programming can only be fully realized through the effective management of pairing strategies, peer communication, task difficulty, and collaborative processes

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Instructional Design, Higher Education Studies (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 27, 2025

Submission Date

October 22, 2024

Acceptance Date

July 17, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 15 Number: 3

APA
Demir, Ö., Çınar, M., & Seferoğlu, S. S. (2025). The Impact of Solo and Pair Programming Modes on Problem-solving Skills and Motivation: Students’ Reflections on Pair Programming. Anadolu Journal of Educational Sciences International, 15(3), 1145-1170. https://doi.org/10.18039/ajesi.1570205
AMA
1.Demir Ö, Çınar M, Seferoğlu SS. The Impact of Solo and Pair Programming Modes on Problem-solving Skills and Motivation: Students’ Reflections on Pair Programming. AJESI. 2025;15(3):1145-1170. doi:10.18039/ajesi.1570205
Chicago
Demir, Ömer, Murat Çınar, and Süleyman Sadi Seferoğlu. 2025. “The Impact of Solo and Pair Programming Modes on Problem-Solving Skills and Motivation: Students’ Reflections on Pair Programming”. Anadolu Journal of Educational Sciences International 15 (3): 1145-70. https://doi.org/10.18039/ajesi.1570205.
EndNote
Demir Ö, Çınar M, Seferoğlu SS (September 1, 2025) The Impact of Solo and Pair Programming Modes on Problem-solving Skills and Motivation: Students’ Reflections on Pair Programming. Anadolu Journal of Educational Sciences International 15 3 1145–1170.
IEEE
[1]Ö. Demir, M. Çınar, and S. S. Seferoğlu, “The Impact of Solo and Pair Programming Modes on Problem-solving Skills and Motivation: Students’ Reflections on Pair Programming”, AJESI, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 1145–1170, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.18039/ajesi.1570205.
ISNAD
Demir, Ömer - Çınar, Murat - Seferoğlu, Süleyman Sadi. “The Impact of Solo and Pair Programming Modes on Problem-Solving Skills and Motivation: Students’ Reflections on Pair Programming”. Anadolu Journal of Educational Sciences International 15/3 (September 1, 2025): 1145-1170. https://doi.org/10.18039/ajesi.1570205.
JAMA
1.Demir Ö, Çınar M, Seferoğlu SS. The Impact of Solo and Pair Programming Modes on Problem-solving Skills and Motivation: Students’ Reflections on Pair Programming. AJESI. 2025;15:1145–1170.
MLA
Demir, Ömer, et al. “The Impact of Solo and Pair Programming Modes on Problem-Solving Skills and Motivation: Students’ Reflections on Pair Programming”. Anadolu Journal of Educational Sciences International, vol. 15, no. 3, Sept. 2025, pp. 1145-70, doi:10.18039/ajesi.1570205.
Vancouver
1.Ömer Demir, Murat Çınar, Süleyman Sadi Seferoğlu. The Impact of Solo and Pair Programming Modes on Problem-solving Skills and Motivation: Students’ Reflections on Pair Programming. AJESI. 2025 Sep. 1;15(3):1145-70. doi:10.18039/ajesi.1570205

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