Functional programming (FP) promotes immutability and declarative thinking, offering benefits for reliability, maintainability, and scalability. Despite these advantages, FP remains less widely adopted than imperative programming (IP) languages such as C++. Prior studies have explored this gap by analyzing programmers’ self-reported experiences and performance, but cognitive-level insights for novices are limited. To address this, we conducted an eye-tracking study with 49 novice programmers to compare how they comprehend FP (Racket) and IP (C++) during tasks. We designed six paired tasks that covered similar concepts in both languages and employed a mixed-methods approach, including interviews and surveys, to understand their learning experiences. Participants showed fewer fixations and shorter per-element fixation times in Racket than in C++, yet they also frequently revisited parts of the FP code. This combination of lower per-element measures and higher regression rates suggests different cognitive processing patterns in Racket rather than lower effort. Prior C++ experience did not aid in understanding Racket, but gender differences emerged: women spent more time on Racket without improved outcomes. Participants reported lower satisfaction with FP, citing limited exposure, lack of support, and unclear real-world relevance. Our findings offer insights to inform tools, pedagogy, and strategies for making Racket and related FP instruction more approachable in similar educational settings.
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