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Abstract
This research investigated the cognitive characteristics for learning a visual programming language, Visual Basic. It replicated an earlier study by White (72) that used C++, an object-oriented programming language. The two cognitive characteristics investigated in this research with Visual Basic were 1) cognitive development, as measured by the Proposition Logic Test (PLT) and 2) cognitive hemispheric style, as measured by the Hemispheric Mode Indicator (HMI). Prior research has shown that object-oriented and procedural programming involves a high level of cognitive development and that procedural programmers are left brain hemispheric style thinkers. The findings from this study using a visual programming language, contradicts prior research with other programming paradigms. This study found visual programming being left cognitive hemispheric style, just like procedural programming. However, cognitive development was unimportant. While procedural and object-oriented languages require a high cognitive development level, visual programming languages require a lower level. This supports the theory that different programming language paradigms require different cognitive characteristics (73).