Is the Problematic in Cs1 a Student’s Problem Solving Ability?

A student’s problem solving ability (PSA) is often considered a factor in determining their success in a first course in computer programming (CS1). Can a student’s PSA be measured before taking a CS1 course? How? Would such an assessment effectively predict final exam scores? This paper presents the results of a pilot study guiding the development of a PSA assessment method. The approach attempts to use a student’s words in response to an analysis task to extract quantifiers of PSA. This research is viewed as a compass to point out a direction (with much more road to travel). The tentative answer is “PSA may be detectable in student’s expressions.”