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Fri, Nov 2, 4:30 - 4:55, Ellwood 1 Paper (refereed)

Recommended Citation: Hunsinger, D S, A E Holt, and M B Knight. Factors Influencing Females Whether to Become Computer Information Systems Majors. In The Proceedings of the Information Systems Education Conference 2007, v 24 (Pittsburgh): §2712. ISSN: 1542-7382. (A later version appears in Information Systems Education Journal 7(1). ISSN: 1545-679X.)

Factors Influencing Females Whether to Become Computer Information Systems Majors

Refereed

17 pages

D. Scott Hunsinger    [a1] [a2]
Department of Computer Information Systems
Appalachian State University    [u1] [u2]
Boone, North Carolina, USA    [c1] [c2]

Ashley E. Holt    [a1] [a2]
Department of Computer Information Systems
Appalachian State University    [u1] [u2]
Boone, North Carolina, USA    [c1] [c2]

Michael B. Knight    [a1] [a2]
Department of Computer Information Systems
University of Wisconsin Green Bay    [u1] [u2]
Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA    [c1] [c2]

Many U.S. universities have recently encountered decreases in computer-related majors, including Computer Information Systems (CIS), even though there is a shortage of skilled IS professionals. A disproportionate number of females choose to major in CIS. Previous research has cited various reasons why females may not choose computer-related majors. We began our study by using structured interviews to better understand why College of Business students at our university choose to major (or not major) in CIS. Based upon the interview findings, we then created and administered an online survey to 100 students at three U.S. universities to capture quantitative data for analysis. We based this survey upon the theory of planned behavior. This theory has been used in previous research to determine why people intend to behave in a certain manner. Even though students indicated that certain groups of importance to them (such as parents and professors) influence their actions, these referent groups strongly believe that students should NOT major or double-major in CIS. The interviews and surveys also indicated that students lack knowledge about the CIS major and believe that it is a difficult major. Future researchers and stakeholders can use our study’s results to focus on the most influential factors that encourage or discourage females to enter the CIS major.

Keywords: females, IS worker shortage, computer information systems, IS majors, women

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