一句话：通过调查与结构方程模型，揭示学生参与 OSS 的兴趣主要受内在动机影响，而障碍感知影响不显著。
开源软件（OSS）项目为培养软件工程师提供了机会，但学生参与度仍低，尤其从未贡献者的看法尚缺研究。本文构建理论模型，考察学生对 OSS 的认知、障碍与动机同参与兴趣的关系，并对计算机科学及相关专业学生进行问卷调查（N=241），采用结构方程模型检验假设。结果显示：内在动机和内化的外在动机与参与兴趣正相关；外在动机的影响因性别而异；障碍感知与参与兴趣无显著关系。学生建议通过提高 OSS 重要性认知等方式增强项目吸引力。研究有助于社区更好地接纳学生，并指导教育者将参与与具体动机因素关联。
Open Source Software (OSS) projects offer valuable opportunities to train the next generation of software engineers while benefiting projects and society as a whole. While research has extensively explored student participation in OSS and its use in software engineering education, student participation in OSS is still low, and the perspectives of students who have never contributed remain under-explored. This study aims to investigate the relationship between students' interest in contributing to OSS and their perceptions of barriers and motivational factors. We developed a theoretical model to understand the relationship between students' perceptions of OSS and their interest in contributing. We then surveyed students majoring in computer science and related fields (N=241). Using structural equation modeling techniques, we tested the model and found that intrinsic and internalized extrinsic motivations are positively associated with interest in contributing to OSS projects, while the impact of extrinsic motivation varies by gender. Comparatively, we found no significant relationship between barriers and interest in contributing. Students suggested several ways to make projects more attractive, including increasing awareness of the importance of OSS. Our findings can help communities better prepare to integrate students and encourage educators to enhance interest in OSS by linking participation to specific motivational factors.
@inproceedings{paperbot9074,
title = {Exploring the Untapped: Student Perceptions and Participation in OSS},
author = {Italo Santos and Katia Romero Felizardo and Bianca Trinkenreich and Daniel M. German and Igor Steinmacher and Marco A. Gerosa},
booktitle = {FSE},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1145/3696630.3727243}
}