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Women in Information Technology: Examining the Role of Attitudes, Social Norms, and Behavioral Control in Information Technology Career Choices

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Women in Information Technology: Examining the Role of Attitudes, Social Norms, and Behavioral Control in Information Technology Career Choices WOMEN IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: EXAMINING THE ROLE OF ATTITUDES, SOCIAL NORMS, AND BEHAVIORAL CONTROL IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CAREER CHOICES Tiffany Brinkley, McNair Scholar Dr. K.D. Joshi, Faculty Mentor Department of Information Systems ABSTRACT The field of Information Technology (IT) is one of the fastest growing areas within the U.S. economy. Despite the high demand of IT workers, women and minorities are entering this field in small numbers. The focus of this study was to examine the structural, social, and attitudinal factors that influence an individual’s decision to choose an IT career. The findings revealed many differences among male and female high school students’ attitudes, and intentions. Although many stereotypes existed among the male and female students, perceptions appeared to be similar within the population. For boys, computer and technical skills had a stronger association with attitudes toward IT than for girls. For girls, social issues showed a strong association with attitudes toward IT. Overall, the intention to pursue IT as a career was most likely to prevail within the population of the high school boys. INTRODUCTION The field of Information Technology (IT) is one of the fastest growing areas within the U.S. economy. IT professionals develop applications and/or run systems that support other people or the use of computer systems in businesses (Ahuja 2001). Like many science-based occupations, men predominantly fill IT positions. Despite the high demand for IT workers, women and minorities are entering this field in small numbers (Ahuja, 2003; Newton, 2001; SESTAT, 2002). Even though numbers have increased some over the last decade they do not show a significant improvement (Ahuja, 2003; SESTAT, 2002). Here we are concerned with the following questions: Why are women and minorities underrepresented in an area that is growing so fast? What structural, social, and attitudinal factors are impeding the entrance of women and minorities into the IT fields? Past research has suggested that certain social and structural factors may be preventing the entrance of women and minorities into IT related careers (Ahuja, 2002; Gurer and Camp, 2002; Newton, 2001; Clarke and Teague, 1996; Teague, 2002). This study proposes to examine the factors that influence individual’s intention to pursue an IT career. More specifically, this study will systematically assess the causes of gender-related differences in the attraction to an IT career among high school students. 24 BACKGROUND: REVIEW OF LITERATURE Many minority women in our society have not chosen to pursue a career in the field of information technology despite ample job opportunities. In 1999, three percent of the IT workers with a bachelor’s degree were underrepresented minority females compared to 60 percent white male and 20 percent white female (SESTAT, 2002). These low numbers of women and minorities may be insightful of certain factors that impede these groups from choosing IT careers. The literature suggests that attitudes toward a profession, mentoring/role-models, computing environments, societal influences, and self-efficacy are some of the factors that affect an individual’s career choice (Gurer and Camp, 2002; Clarke and Teague, 1996). During the early stages of education many girls are interested in computing. However, they tend to become uninterested soon after (Gurer and Camp, 2002). This seems to occur for many reasons. Often, boys jump right into computing classes and control a large part of the teachers’ time leaving the girls without much teacher attention. This may frustrate the girls because they are left alone to figure it out, thus causing them to become uninterested (Gurer and Camp, 2002); or, they begin to think that computing is too difficult (Teague, 2002). Attitudes about computing also determine whether or not IT is chosen as a career (Gurer and Camp, 2002; Ahuja, 2002). James Stanton, who is a director of the Institute Initiative stated: “For women and minorities to see science, engineering, and technology as potential careers, we need to work with them in the middle schools” (see Lewis, 2001). Studies have shown that middle and high school girls with female computer professors perform better than those without them (Gurer and Camp, 2002). This suggests the need for role models and mentors in the school system for girls and minority students. If female students lack female role models or mentors with whom they can discuss career choices, they may decide they do not have enough information about the IT field to choose it as a career (Ahuja, 2002). Societal influences often cause girls to have misconceptions about IT professionals. Some girls have described them as unwashed males with no social skills (Newton, 2001), perceive them as “geeky” (Newton, 2001) or perceive that IT in general is for nerds or men only (Gurer and Camp, 2002). Either way it shows that many women who may have the talent or may have previously been interested become uninterested because of the negativity that is being displayed toward them either in their misconceptions or how society views those in computing. Even movies and TV shows sometimes depict IT people as most likely male and extremely intelligent, but often without many friends or outside relationships. Girls who see these shows may try to compare themselves to the male or think to themselves that they aren’t as intelligent. This may result in them believing they could never be successful in a field such as IT. Also, the lack of minority individuals depicted in these roles may influence decisions against preparing for a career in the field. Researchers say that it is important to expose children as young as preschool to computing to emphasize to them that boys and girls are equally able to do it (Gurer and Camp, 2002). Although this may be important, many schools cannot control factors that exist outside of school. Only 19.3 percent of minorities, compared to 40.8 percent white households, own computers (Chisholm, et al., 2002). Therefore, it is conceivable that college bound minorities have less experience using computers and may not have had the opportunity to consider a career in computing-related professions. In households that do own a computer, it is most likely to reside in the boys’ bedroom (Clarke and Teague, 2002). This may hinder a girl’s opportunity to use it. Research suggests that children’s exposure to computers is crucial in order to give them positive experiences that may cause an interest in computing (Gurer and Camp, 2002). Additionally, many minorities attend schools that do not have sufficient computers for the students to work on, which may contribute to their lack of understanding and interest in computers. The more experience a person has with computers the more confident they may feel in using them (Gurer and Camp, 2002). 25 In many cases the way a student uses computers in school depends upon the teachers’ perception of the students’ ability. Many teachers of minority students have low expectations for them and may not require them to use the type of computer programs that will help them develop the problem-solving skills that are needed (Chisholm, et al., 2002). Similarly, they often call on boys rather than girls for answers to their questions (Gurer and Camp, 2002). This leaves minority girls with the problems that they face because of their gender and their ethnicity. The effect is that minorities may be at a disadvantage from the increased dedication to technology in education and our society’s growing dependence on technology for personal, social, and economic development. The technological gap has potential for disenfranchising these technologically poor segments of society. If our schools hope to provide unbiased access to higher learning, then they must concern themselves with fair access to IT (Chisholm et al., 2002). Without the ability or interest to become involved in computing at the high school level many students will lack the opportunity and incentive to choose IT as a career or have the skills to interact well with computers. RESEARCH QUESTIONS Two research questions guide this study: RQ1: What type of an image do male and female high school students have about IT professionals and the profession? RQ2: What structural, social, and attitudinal factors impede female high school students from entering into IT related careers? RESEARCH MODEL This study attempts to systematically assess the causes of gender and race-related differences in attraction to information technology (IT) as a career. In this study, we propose a Theory of Planned Behavior–based model (see, Ajzen and Fishbein, 1980) of intention to pursue an IT career. This model incorporates work value congruence, attitudes, norms, facilitating factors, and self-efficacy. This theory of planned behaviors (TPB) has been widely used to explain individual behaviors in a variety of contexts (See Figure 1). The theory proposes that a behavior can be predicted by intentions, which are formed by one’s attitude, perceived subjective norms, and the individual’s control concerning the behavior. In this study, TPB suggests that an individual’s intention to pursue an IT career is collectively determined by personal interests, social influences and certain factors that control one’s behaviors. These factors relate to an individual’s attitude toward IT and the perceived social pressures regarding an IT career, and their perceived control over choosing an IT career. The model constructs and corresponding hypotheses are briefly discussed below. Behavioral Beliefs About IT • Self-efficacy Attitude Toward IT • Degree of Congruence between perceptions • IT Career Image Social Beliefs About IT Subjective Norm Intend to • Referent-others Toward IT Choose IT as a Career Facilitating Factors • Computer Access Behavioral Control • Computer Ownership • Computer Experience Figure 1. Theory of Planned Behavior Model 26 Determinants of an Attitude toward an IT Career An attitude toward a career in IT is formed by individuals’ behavioral beliefs about the outcome of pursuing such a career and the assessment of those outcomes.
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