Why secondary students do not tend to pursue ICT-related studies?

Abstract

Female secondary students are found to be less interested in computer and technology-related domains than their male counterparts. This study is being carried out in Catalonia (Spain) with a sample of 900 secondary students enrolled in the last course of the Spanish secondary compulsory system (average age=16). The main aim of this research is to analyze the role played by different psychosocial variables in explaining secondary students’ choice of ICT-related studies. Boys are predicted to have a higher perception of their math and computer ability consequently and also will be more likely to pursue ICT-related studies than their female counterparts. It is also hypothesized that computer self-ability is the best predictor of ICT-related studies, even a better predictor than math-ability of ICT-related studies. All findings will be discussed, together with their theoretical and practical implications.

Publication
XI European Congress of Psychology: A rapidly changing world Challenges for Psychology

Citation

Sáinz, M., Meneses, J., García, S., Solé, J., & González, A. (2009, July 7). Why secondary students do not tend to pursue ICT-related studies? Paper presented at the XI European Congress of Psychology: A rapidly changing world Challenges for Psychology, Oslo. http://www.efpa.eu/about/european-congress-of-psychology
Julio Meneses
Julio Meneses
Full Professor

Professor de metodologia de la investigació, director d’Anàlisi de l’Aprenentatge i de la Docència de l’eLearning Innovation Center i investigador de l’Internet Interdisciplinary Institute de la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya.

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