ISEDJ

Information Systems Education Journal

Volume 12

V12 N4 Pages 40-48

July 2014

Gender Rationales and Success Factors in Assessing and Selecting a Major in Information Technology at the Undergraduate Level of a University Program: A Focus Group Approach

Sushma Mishra
Robert Morris University
Moon Township, PA 15108, USA

Peter Draus
Robert Morris University
Moon Township, PA 15108, USA

Donald Caputo
Robert Morris University
Moon Township, PA 15108, USA

Gregory Leone
Robert Morris University
Moon Township, PA 15108, USA

Frederick Kohun
Robert Morris University
Moon Township, PA 15108, USA

Diana Repack
Robert Morris University
Moon Township, PA 15108, USA

Abstract: Previous research studies of women applying to, enrolling and completing computing degrees at the undergraduate collegiate level has resulted in an alarming and precipitous underrepresentation of females in the Information Technology domain in the past decade. This study employs a focus group approach to the gender gap that encompasses forays into the qualitative perceptions and rationales of women in technology in an attempt to disclose the underlying factors that have led to the loss of a significant resource in the Information Technology workforce, that of the female contingent.

Keywords: focus group,, mentoring, qualitative study,, strategies for recruitment, women in computing

Download this article: ISEDJ - V12 N4 Page 40.pdf

Recommended Citation: Mishra, S., Draus, P., Caputo, D., Leone, G., Kohun, F., Repack, D. (2014). Gender Rationales and Success Factors in Assessing and Selecting a Major in Information Technology at the Undergraduate Level of a University Program: A Focus Group Approach . Information Systems Education Journal, 12(4) pp 40-48. http://isedj.org/2014-12/ ISSN: 1545-679X. (A preliminary version appears in The Proceedings of ISECON 2013)