Take a look at the new version of this page: [ beta version ]. Tell us what you think.

ABSTRACT

Departmental attrition data from one state show that the difference between male and female rates of undergraduate attrition from computer science varies by institution. This analysis suggests that departmental factors are important in attrition from CS. Some CS departments inhibit female persistence at the undergraduate level while other departments promote persistence. The observed variation encourages research that compares departmental characteristics such as structure and culture, and relates them to departmental outcomes. Shifting the research focus to departmental characteristics and outcomes will identify effective methods for retaining women.

REFERENCES

• 1: Greg Scragg , Jesse Smith, A study of barriers to women in undergraduate computer science., Proceedings of the twenty-ninth SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, p.82-86, February 26-March 01, 1998, Atlanta, Georgia, United States [doi>10.1145/273133.273167]
• 2: Kersteen, Zoe A., Marcia C. Lima, Michael Clarity, Ctmis Hardyck. 1988. "Previous Experience and the Learning of Computer Programming: The Computer Helps Those Who Help Themselves" Journal of Educational Computing Research. Vol. 4(3).
• 3: Hess, Robert D. and Irene T. Miura. 1985. "Gender Differences in Enrollment in Computer Camps and Classes" Sex Roles. Vol. 13, Nos. 3-4, 193-203.
• 4: Shashaani, Lily. 1997. "Gender Differences in Computer Attitudes and Use Among College Students." Journal of Educational Computing Research, Vol. 16, (1). 37-51.
• 5: Lips, I-Iilary M. and Linda Temple. 1990. "Majoring in Computer Science: Causal Models for Women and Men." Research in Higher Education. Vol. 3 I. No. 1.
• 6: Bunderson, Eileen D. and Mary Elizabeth Christensen. 1995. "An Analysis of Retention Problems for Female Students in University Computer Science Programs" Journal of Research on Computing in Education. Vo128(1). 1-15.
• 7: John Konvalina , Stanley A. Wileman , Larry J. Stephens, Math proficiency: a key to success for computer science students, Communications of the ACM, v.26 n.5, p.377-382, May 1983 [doi>10.1145/69586.358140]
• 8: John Konvalina , Stanley A. Wileman , Larry J. Stephens, Math proficiency: a key to success for computer science students, Communications of the ACM, v.26 n.5, p.377-382, May 1983 [doi>10.1145/69586.358140]
• 9: Jagacinski, Carloyn M. William K. LeBold, and Gavriel Salvendy. 1988. "Gender Differences in Persistence in Computer-Related fields." Journal of Educational Computing Research. Vol 4(2).
• 10: Clarke, Valerie A. and Susan M. Chambers 1989. "Gender-Based Factors in Computing Enrollments and Achievement: Evidence from a Study of Tertiary Students" Journal of Educational Computing Research. Vol 5(4) 409-429.
• 11: Busch, Tor. 1995. "Gender Differences in Self- Efficacy and Attitudes Toward Computers" Journal of Educational Computing Research. Vol 12(2). 147- 158.
• 12: Hill, Thomas, Nancy D. Smith, and Millard F. Mann. 1987. "Role of Efficacy E~tions in Predicting the Decision to Use Advanced Technologies: The Case of Computers." Journal of Applied Psychology. Vol. 72 (2). 307-313.
• 13: Seymour, Elaine and Nancy Hewitt, 1997. Talking About Leaving, Westview Press, Boulder
• 14: Etzkowitz, Henry, Carol Kemelgor, Michael Neuschat, Brian Uzzi, 1994 "Barriers to Women in Academic Science and Engineering" in Who will do Science? Educating the Next Generation, ed by Willie Pearson Jr. And Irwin Fechter, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press
• 15: Sherry Turkle, The second self: computers and the human spirit, Simon & Schuster, Inc., New York, NY, 1984
• 16: Kiesler, Sara, Lee Sproull, and Jac~elynne S. Eccles. 1985. "Pool Halls, chips, and War Games: Women in the Culture of Computing." Psychology of Women Quarterly. Vol. 9. 451-462.
• 17: Fisher, Allan, Jane Margolis, and Faye Miller. 1997. "The Role of College Major Departments in the Reproduction of Sexual Inequality." Sociology of Education. 54' 195-205.
• 18: Cottrell, Janet. 1992. "I'm a Stranger here myself: A consideration of women in Computing" ACM. New York
• 19: Sanders, Jo. 1995. "Girls and Technology: Villain Wanted" in Teaching the Majority. ed. Sue V. Rosser. Teachers College Press. New York.
• 20: Astin, Alexander W. and Helen S. Astin. 1992. Undergraduate Science Education: The Impact of Different College Environments on the Educational Pipeline in the Sciences. Higher Education Research Institute, UCLA, Los Angeles
• 21: Kathy Howell, The experience of women in undergraduate computer science: what does the research say?, ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, v.25 n.2, p.1-8, June 1993 [doi>10.1145/152751.152752]
• 22: Houle, Philip A. 1996. "Toward Understanding Student Differences In a Computer Skills Course" Journal of Educational Computing Research. Vol. 14(1) 25-48.
• 23: William Haliburton , Mack Thweatt , Nancy J. Wahl, Gender differences in personality components of computer science students: a test of Holland's congruence hypothesis, Proceedings of the twenty-ninth SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, p.77-81, February 26-March 01, 1998, Atlanta, Georgia, United States [doi>10.1145/273133.273166]
• 24: Ancis, Julie R. and Susan D. Phillips. 1996. "Academic Gender Bias and Women's Behavioral Agency Self-Efficacy." Journal of Counseling and Development. Vol. 75. 131-137.
• 25: Strenta, A. Christopher, Rogers Elliott, Russell Adair, Michael Matier, and Jallllah Scott. 1994. "Choosing and Leaving Science in Highly Selective Institutions" Research in Higher Education Vol. 35, No. 5.
• 26: Whitley, Bernard E. Jr. 1997 "Gender differences in computer-related attitudes and beharior: A rectaanalysis" Computers in Human Behavior 1997 Jan: Vol 13 (1): 1-22.
• 27: Jacobs Jerry A. 1987 "The Sex Typing of Aspirations and Occupations: Instability During the Careers of Young Women." Social Science Quarterly. 68, 1, 122-137.
• 28: CASPAR. 1998 Statistical Academic Data from the National Science Foundation. Available on the internet at http://caspar, nsf. gov/cgibinfWebIC.exe?template=ns~rs\webcasp~tart.wi

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION

General Terms:
Documentation, Human Factors

Keywords:
attrition, gender, retention, undergraduate education