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Evaluating the Usability of ChatGPT as a Code Generation Tool for the R Programming Language


Konsep Inti
ChatGPT demonstrates high usability as a tool for generating R programming code, with good performance on various quality attributes, though it may struggle on more challenging programming tasks.
Abstrak

The paper evaluates the usability of ChatGPT as a tool for generating R programming code. The key findings are:

  1. Overall, ChatGPT performed very well on the usability metrics, with high scores on accuracy, completeness, structuredness, logic clarity, parameter coverage, readability, and depth of explanation. The weakest aspect was conciseness, with an average score of 3.8 out of 5.

  2. On objective metrics, ChatGPT required an average of only 1.61 attempts to complete the tasks, with 72% of tasks completed in a single attempt. The average time to complete a task was 47.02 seconds, with 90% of tasks completed within 100 seconds.

  3. ChatGPT performed best on general programming tasks, scoring 95.2% on average. It scored lower on visualization (91.1%) and exploratory tasks (91.6%).

  4. The number of attempts and completion times were also best for programming tasks, and worst for visualization tasks.

  5. The experiment found it is difficult for human developers to learn to use ChatGPT more effectively through repeated experience, suggesting the need for better user guidance and training.

Overall, the results demonstrate that ChatGPT has high usability as a code generation tool for the R programming language, though it may struggle on more complex or specialized tasks.

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Statistik
The average number of attempts to complete the tasks was 1.61. The average time to complete the tasks was 47.02 seconds. 90% of tasks were completed within 100 seconds. 98% of tasks were completed within 2.5 minutes.
Kutipan
"ChatGPT demonstrates high usability as a tool for generating R programming code, with good performance on various quality attributes, though it may struggle on more challenging programming tasks." "The weakest aspect was conciseness, with an average score of 3.8 out of 5." "The experiment found it is difficult for human developers to learn to use ChatGPT more effectively through repeated experience, suggesting the need for better user guidance and training."

Wawasan Utama Disaring Dari

by Tanha Miah,H... pada arxiv.org 04-10-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2402.03130.pdf
Evaluation of ChatGPT Usability as A Code Generation Tool

Pertanyaan yang Lebih Dalam

How can the usability of ChatGPT be further improved, especially in terms of conciseness and handling more complex programming tasks?

To enhance the usability of ChatGPT, particularly in terms of conciseness and handling complex programming tasks, several strategies can be implemented: Fine-tuning for Specific Tasks: ChatGPT can be fine-tuned on a more extensive dataset that includes a diverse range of complex programming tasks. This will help the model better understand the intricacies of coding and generate more concise and accurate solutions. Improved Prompting: Providing more specific and detailed prompts to ChatGPT can guide it towards generating more concise code. Clear and structured prompts can help the model focus on the essential aspects of the task. Post-Processing Mechanisms: Implementing post-processing mechanisms to refine the output generated by ChatGPT can help in improving the conciseness of the code. These mechanisms can automatically refactor the code to make it more compact and efficient. Feedback Loop: Incorporating a feedback loop where users can provide feedback on the generated code can help ChatGPT learn and improve over time. This continuous learning process can enhance the model's ability to handle complex tasks and produce concise code. Enhanced Training Data: Ensuring that the training data for ChatGPT includes a wide variety of programming styles, best practices, and coding conventions can help the model generate more concise and accurate code. By implementing these strategies, the usability of ChatGPT as a code generation tool can be significantly improved, making it more effective in handling complex programming tasks and producing concise code.

What are the potential limitations or biases in the dataset and evaluation methodology used in this study, and how might they impact the generalizability of the findings?

Dataset Limitations: Source Bias: The dataset sourced from specific textbooks may not represent the full spectrum of programming tasks encountered in real-world scenarios. Difficulty Level: The manual assignment of difficulty levels may introduce subjectivity and bias into the dataset. Limited Scope: The dataset may not cover all possible types of programming tasks, leading to a lack of diversity in the evaluation. Evaluation Methodology: Subjectivity: The evaluation criteria based on subjective assessments may introduce bias based on individual testers' interpretations. Limited Metrics: Focusing on specific quality attributes may overlook other important aspects of code generation usability. Single Tester: Using a single tester may not capture the variability in user experiences and preferences. Impact on Generalizability: The limitations in the dataset and evaluation methodology may restrict the generalizability of the findings to real-world programming scenarios. Biases in the dataset and evaluation process can affect the model's performance in practical applications that differ from the study setup. The lack of diversity in the dataset and evaluation approach may limit the applicability of the results to broader programming contexts. Addressing these limitations by diversifying the dataset, incorporating multiple evaluators, and refining the evaluation criteria can enhance the generalizability of the study findings.

Given the rapid progress in large language models and their increasing integration into software development workflows, what broader implications might the use of such tools have on the future of programming and software engineering practices?

Increased Efficiency: Large language models can automate repetitive coding tasks, speeding up the development process and allowing programmers to focus on more complex problem-solving. Enhanced Collaboration: These tools can facilitate collaboration among developers by providing instant code suggestions, promoting knowledge sharing, and standardizing coding practices. Skill Augmentation: Large language models can serve as a valuable resource for developers, assisting in learning new programming languages, best practices, and coding patterns. Code Quality Improvement: By generating code snippets based on natural language descriptions, these tools can enhance code quality, consistency, and adherence to coding standards. Innovation in Software Development: The integration of large language models can spur innovation in software development by enabling rapid prototyping, exploring new ideas, and experimenting with different approaches. Challenges in Adoption: The adoption of these tools may require adjustments in traditional software engineering practices, training developers on their usage, and addressing potential biases or limitations in the models. Overall, the use of large language models in programming and software engineering practices has the potential to revolutionize the way code is written, tested, and maintained, leading to more efficient and collaborative development processes.
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