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IIRC Peopleware pointed out a study where they compared two groups of programmers, those working in a quiet environment and those working with music. Given iden
by iyulaev 13y ago
IIRC Peopleware pointed out a study where they compared two groups of programmers, those working in a quiet environment and those working with music. Given identical assignments, both groups completed it in roughly the same (median) amount of time. However, the assignment was such that there was a "shortcut", i.e. if you thought hard enough about the requirements a much easier solution was possible. Only the programmers in the quiet group got this shortcut. Thought this was interesting.
- throwww00 13y agoHow was it a shortcut if both groups completed it at the same time?
- ollysb 13y agoI think the point was that the programmers working in the environment with music produced solutions with more complexity. Over the lifetime of a project that complexity is going to add up.
- tomhschmidt 13y agoOnly the median was the same. The way I interpret this is that a quiet work environment sort of "unlocked" the ability to see the shortcut for a small number of workers. However, most still used the normal method and had the same performance as the workers with music, thus the same median.
- kps 13y agoIt was a bit more than a shortcut. The Cornell experiment, however, contained a hidden wild card. The specification required that an output data stream be formed through a series of manipulations on numbers in the input data stream. For example, participants had to shift each number two digits to the left and then divide by one hundred and so on, perhaps completing a dozen operations in total. Although the specification never said it, the net effect of all the operations was that each output number was necessarily equal to its input number. Some people realized this and others did not. Of those who figured it out, the overwhelming majority came from the quiet room.
- osekkat 13y agoThis experiment sounds interesting. Do you have a link to the source?
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- prawn 13y agoMusic/noise isn't the issue so much as lyrics for me (or background phone calls, etc if we're talking about general noise).
- machinshin_ 13y agosame here! i generally listen to classical when writing code or just needing to THINK
- kamaal 13y ago>>both groups completed it in roughly the same (median) amount of time. Sometimes if there is no other option people just adapt. Even if it is uncomfortable. Besides, it also depends on the tasks you are doing. I can pretty much code any regular problem-solution pattern in a noisy set up. But if I need to debug/trouble shoot. Or if I'm doing something new which I haven't done before I need some silence and undisturbed time to focus and get it done.