ERIC Number: EJ1307945
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Sep
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1938-8926
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Storylines in Figured Worlds: Understanding Diverse College Students' Decision to Major in Computer Science
Convertino, Christina; Monarrez, Angelica
Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, v14 n3 p374-385 Sep 2021
Given the workforce demand for computer scientists, especially more racially, ethnically, and gender diverse computer scientists (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016), significant efforts have been made to recruit underrepresented groups to major in computer science (CS; National Science Foundation, 2018). However, there is very little research on how underrepresented students decide to major in computer science. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how racially, ethnically, linguistically, and gender diverse students in an introductory CS course, at a Hispanic-serving university on the U.S.-Mexico border, decided to major in CS. Findings demonstrate that participants drew on four principal storylines to decide to major in CS: social mobility and opportunity storylines, user storylines, interest storylines, and underrepresentation storylines. Students' storylines stemmed from multiple sources, including but not limited to the media and family. Findings also show that students' storylines did not align with official storylines found in the figured world of CS in higher education. Rather, results illustrated the nuanced ways in which the media, family, friends, and school personnel influenced students' storylines to shape their decision to major in CS. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Hispanic American Students, Minority Serving Institutions, Student Diversity, Decision Making, Majors (Students), Computer Science Education, Disproportionate Representation, Social Mobility, Employment Opportunities, Student Interests, Ability, Sense of Community, Family Influence, Friendship, Mass Media Effects
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Texas (El Paso)
Grant or Contract Numbers: P226100945A
Author Affiliations: N/A

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