Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

How Middle School Boys From Underrepresented Communities Perceive Computer Science And Computer Science Careers, Cristal Kelly

Undergraduate Research at FIU (URFIU) Conference

Computer science (CS) as a field is characterized by significant disparities in the representation of people groups from minority populations. In this phenomenological study we sought to understand how middle school boys from minority groups perceive CS and related careers with the goal of identifying the factors that contribute to their career intentions. Specifically we sought to answer the following questions: How are salient factors reported by middle school boys related to CS career aspirations associated with their cultural values? How do perceived barriers shape their career intentions? And how do high CS interest and negative perceptions interact to affect …