Exploring Factors Affecting Minority High School Students' Interest in Computer Science and Future Career Plans

• In Event: Fairmont Roundtable Session One
  In Roundtable Session: Supporting Diverse Learners in Computing and Engineering Education (Table 9)

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to understand contextual factors affecting minority high school students’ future career plans with an aim to explore ways to promote interest in computer science (CS) among minority students, particularly those from low-income families. Using Social Cognitive Career Theory (Lent, Brown, & Hackett, 1994) as the theoretical framework, we conducted an exploratory qualitative study where we interviewed, observed, and surveyed 31 minority high school students. The findings revealed that participants’ interest in CS was influenced by a combination of five factors, including family influence, exposure to CS activities, and/or social media/TV exposure. The findings also presented differences in terms of family support and CS exposure between students from high-poverty schools and low-poverty schools.

Authors

• Jung Won Hur, Auburn University
  Presenting Author

• Jay Bhuyan, Tuskegee University
  Presenting Author