Code Reading And Program Comprehension Bibliography

Deimel and Naveda (1990) Reading Computer Programs: Instructor's Guide and Exercises. CMU/SEI-90-EM-3.

An on line and updated version is available at http://www2.umassd.edu/SWPI/ProcessBibliography/bib-codereading.html

From that site:

These references concern research in how programmers, novice and expert, construct and understanding of source code. Included in the items below are those empirical studies aimed at validating theoretical models, such as Brooks83, articles related to tools support for the code reading activity, and articles related to instructional attempts to help students gain expertise. Curriculum has paid little attention to the area of students ability in code reading, yet from both a testing and maintenance perspective it would appear that helping students develop strategies and techniques that are founded in cognitive principles and supported by empirical evidence is important.