Optimizing SQL Learning: Identifying Prime Study Times Using Time-Data Analysis

This research full paper explores the optimal times for studying and learning Structured Query Language (SQL), a critical skill in managing relational databases across various domains, to improve learning, problem-solving, and academic performance. By identifying prime study times, productivity and retention can be enhanced, particularly by scheduling breaks when cognitive function wanes. This study analyzes over 129,000 SQL submissions from students in a Fall 2022 Database Systems course at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, examining correlations between time of day and answer accuracy (correct, syntax error, or semantic error). Time series analysis was done to analyze the data collected over a set of intervals, and null-hypothesis significance testing was utilized to calculate the p-value, determining the statistical significance of the collected data for drawing confident conclusions.