---
title: What model(s) for program understanding?
url: https://www.emergentmind.com/papers/0702004
type: paper
arxiv_id: '0702004'
arxiv_url: https://arxiv.org/abs/0702004
published: '2007-02-01'
categories:
- cs.HC
---

# What model(s) for program understanding?

## Abstract

The first objective of this paper is to present and discuss various types of models of program understanding. They are discussed in relation to models of text understanding. The second objective of this paper is to assess the effect of purpose for reading, or more specifically programming task, on the cognitive processes involved and representations constructed in program understanding. This is done in the theoretical framework of van Dijk and Kintsch's model of text understanding (1983).