[Tutor] FYI: An Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python

[Alan Gauld]

On 09/04/13 13:47, Steven D'Aprano wrote:

>> Since when did 30 become a representative sample size?
>
> If they are randomly selected, 30 is likely plenty for a representative
> sample size. In surveys, a sample size of 30 gives you a margin of error
> of about 15%, which isn't too bad.

Hmm, if I'd gone to my manager (and especially the finance director) 
with a project proposal based on assumptions with a 15% margin they'd 
have thrown me out. And if I told them I'd developed 5 key assumptions 
based on that same proposal I'd probably have been fired! I'd be looking 
for something like 300+ samples for a project like this to claim that my 
5 key principles were valid. And its not like there is a shortage of 
computer scientists to ask (although admittedly harder to find ones with 
no formal computer training)!

> 1) it is likely to be a biased selection

My suspicion is they just asked around their local department!
But maybe I'm just overly suspicious...

> 2) both computer scientists and educators are prone to fashions, and
> Java is one such fashion.

I don't care about the language since their 5 principles of learning are 
language independent. It was the idea that you could define 5 key 
principles needed to learn to program from a sample size of 30...

If they came to me to peer review that I'd have been telling them to go 
back and do a bigger survey!

-- 
Alan G
Author of the Learn to Program web site
http://www.alan-g.me.uk/