A Code Level Based Programmer Assessment and Selection Criterion Using Metric Tools

this study presents a code level measurement of computer programs developed by computer programmers using a Chidamber and Kemerer Java metric (CKJM) tool and the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) tool. The identification of potential computer programmers using personality trait factors does not seem to be the best approach without a code level measurement of the quality of programs. Hence the need to evolve a metric tool which measures both personality traits of programmers and code level quality of programs developed by programmers. This is the focus of this study. In this experiment, a set of Java based programming tasks were given to 33 student programmers who could confidently use the Java programming language. The codes developed by these students were analyzed for quality using a CKJM tool. Cohesion, coupling and number of public methods (NPM) metrics were used in the study. The choice of these three metrics from the CKJM suite was because they are useful in measuring well designed codes. By examining the cohesion values of classes, high cohesion ranges [0,1] and low coupling imply well designed code. Also number of methods (NPM) in a well-designed class is always less than 5 when cohesion range is [0,1]. Results from this study show that 19 of the 33 programmers developed good and cohesive programs while 14 did not. Further analysis revealed the personality traits of programmers and the number of good programs written by them. Programmers with Introverted Sensing Thinking Judging (ISTJ) traits produced the highest number of good programs, followed by Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Perceiving (INTP), Introverted iNtuitive Feelingng Perceiving (INTP), and Extroverted Sensing Thinking Judging (ESTJ) Keywords—computer programs; program quality; class cohesion; programmers; personality traits