Self-Efficacy and Sense of Belonging: A Comparative Analysis of Factors That Affect Differences in Participation in Information Technology Education by Gender

The recruitment and retention of women is a continuing problem in the Information Technology (IT) profession. Despite positive labor statistics for the IT field, American women are underrepresented. The belief that their skill sets are not as credible as their male counterparts keeps qualified women candidates from attaining key IT positions. There will be no growth in representation if women are not enrolling in the advanced degree programs necessary to end the cycle of underrepresentation. While there are a number of studies investigating the reasons for the underrepresentation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines; there is not an abundance of research that considers the combined role that gender and self-efficacy play. The literature dealing with these issues in IT educational and the IT workforce separately is even more limited and particularly evident is the lack of research on the underrepresentation of women in IT. This dissertation research study explored the sense of inclusion and factors that affect differences in participation in Information Technology (IT) education by gender. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used, and it will involve collecting quantitative data via an online survey and then explaining the quantitative results with in-depth qualitative data with interviews. / A Dissertation submitted to the School of Information in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester 2016. / June 29, 2016. / Higher Education, Information Technology, Self-Efficacy, STEM, Women / Includes bibliographical references. / Kathleen M. Burnett, Professor Directing Dissertation; Shouping Hu, University Representative; Michelle M. Kazmer, Committee Member; Marcia A. Mardis, Committee Member.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_366044
ContributorsColson, Lenese Michelle (authoraut), Burnett, Kathleen M. (Kathleen Marie) (professor directing dissertation), Hu, Shouping (university representative), Kazmer, Michelle M. (committee member), Mardis, Marcia A. (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Communication and Information (degree granting college), School of Information (degree granting department)
PublisherFlorida State University, Florida State University
Source SetsFlorida State University
LanguageEnglish, English
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText, text
Format1 online resource (111 pages), computer, application/pdf
RightsThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them.

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