ERIC Number: EJ831389
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1055-3096
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Gender Differences and Intra-Gender Differences amongst Management Information Systems Students
Beyer, Sylvia
Journal of Information Systems Education, v19 n3 p301-310 2008
Few women major in Management Information Systems (MIS). The purpose of this paper is to examine the reasons for women's underrepresentation in MIS. In addition to examining gender differences, an important and novel goal of this study is to examine intra-gender differences in undergraduate students, i.e., differences among female MIS majors and female students who enrolled in MIS courses as a Business elective (i.e., non-majors). This study found that women's experiences with and self-efficacy regarding computers were much lower than men's, but that they did not have more negative stereotypes and attitudes toward the field. Overall female students had more positive attitudes towards their MIS courses and instructors than male students did. One of the most interesting findings was the importance of female high school computer teachers and role models for female students. Importantly, there was very strong evidence for intra-gender differences. Female majors had much higher computer self-efficacy, computer experience, had more positive attitudes toward MIS, and were more likely to have had female computer teachers in high school compared to female non-majors. The implications of these findings for MIS are discussed. (Contains 1 table.)
Descriptors: Nonmajors, Majors (Students), Undergraduate Students, Role Models, Stereotypes, Females, Self Efficacy, Disproportionate Representation, Management Information Systems, Gender Discrimination, High Schools, Business Education Teachers, Gender Differences, Gender Issues, Business Administration Education, Surveys
Journal of Information Systems Education (JISE). c/o Al Harris, JISE Editor, Department of Computer Information Systems, Walker College of Business, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608. Tel: 828-262-6180; Fax: 828-262-6190; e-mail: jise@appstate.edu; Web site: http://www.jise.appstate.edu/index.htm
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Wisconsin
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A