Learning "Google Fu": Interactions and Practices That Enable Retention of Women in a Computer Science Major

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 12
  In Roundtable Session: Storying the Intersectionality of Gender and Race in a White World

Abstract

Though there is a lot of research on retention of women in Computer Science (CS) majors, most of it focuses on factors that weaken their commitment. To resolve the problem of retention, we need a better understanding on factors that enable women’s persistence or retention in this major. This qualitative study uses the lens of legitimate peripheral participation (LPP) within communities of practice (CoP) to examine social interactions and other practices that provide a context for retention of ten women in a CS major in a US context. Following a thorough analysis, we present a description of social interactions and practices that contributed to their retention.

Author

• Katarina Pantic, Weber State University