Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
In this paper we propose one explanation of why some novice programs are buggier than others. Central to our explanation is the notion of merged goals/plans in which multiple goals are achieved in a single integrated plan. Our arguments are based on our theory of the knowledge — plans and goals — used by a novice in creating a program, and an analysis of actual buggy novice programs.
Spohrer et al. (Tue,) studied this question.