Mental Stress Analysis During Visual- And Text-Based Language Learning by Measuring Heart Rate Variability

Visual-based programming languages that allow programming by arranging blocks have become popular as an introductory method to learn programming. In contrast, programming experts generally use text-based programming languages such as C and Java. However, a seamless methodology for transitioning from this visual-based language to a text-based language has not yet been established. Thus, this research aims to establish a methodology that facilitates this transition by bridging the gap between the two languages and clarifying the variations in the biometric information of the learners of both languages. In this study, we measured the heart rate variability of the participants and evaluated the variations in mental stress encountered while learning both visual- and text-based languages.The experimental results confirmed that the heart rate variability value decreased (i.e., stress level increased) during visual language learning. As a conclusion of this study, the rationale became clear that the design of an intermediate type language used by students at various levels, should not cause mental stress to students at any level.