The Function, and Dysfunction, of Information Sources in Learning Functional Programming

Programmers experienced in using imperative languages can increasingly benefit from also knowing how to use functional languages. However, even if programmers have already mastered general programming constructs such as types and recursion, actually expressing these in a functional language can be challenging. In this paper, we present an observational study investigating what information sources imperative programmers use when they encounter these problems, as well as how well different information sources enable them to overcome problems. By highlighting the central role that external information sources play as students learn functional programming, our results reveal opportunities for more effectively supporting the learning process.