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ERIC Number: EJ1088196
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1940-7882
EISSN: N/A
Women in Community College: Factors Related to Intentions to Pursue Computer Science
Denner, Jill; Werner, Linda; O'Connor, Lisa
NASPA Journal About Women in Higher Education, v8 n2 p156-171 2015
Community colleges (CC) are obvious places to recruit more women into computer science. Enrollment at CCs has grown in response to a struggling economy, and students are more likely to be from underrepresented groups than students enrolled in 4-year universities (National Center for Education Statistics, 2008). However, we know little about why so few go on to study computing and information sciences (CIS) at 4-year universities. This study was designed to test three widely held beliefs about recruiting and retaining women in CIS majors by focusing on women who have expressed interest in computer science. Data were collected from 191 female students enrolled in an introduction to programming class at one of 15 community colleges in California. Results show that women with high intention of pursuing CIS were more avid computer users in their teens and currently play more video games. They also have a positive view of computer programming and place greater value on computing, related to an interest in solving challenging problems and financial motives, rather than an interest in using computing for the social good. Support from others, such as family, friends, and teachers, was not related to intention. The authors discuss how the results can inform strategies to increase the number of women who transfer from community colleges to 4-year universities in CIS fields.
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Two Year Colleges; Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California
Grant or Contract Numbers: 0936791