Introducing the Computer-Related Self-Concept

Abstract

The number of women in STEM fields, especially in computer science, is still very low. Therefore, in this chapter, the computer-related self-concept (CSC) is presented as a new approach to investigate gender differences in computing careers. The computer-related self-concept comprises computer-related attitudes, emotions, and behaviors, integrating different lines of research on computer-related self-cognitions. To establish connections with career development, an extensive online survey was conducted with more than 1100 male and female computing professionals. Results show that men have a significantly more positive computer-related self-concept than women. Furthermore, as hypothesized, the computer-related self-concept shows high correlations with career motivation. Therefore, it is concluded that the computer-related self-concept is a feasible approach to investigate and understand computer-related gender differences. Possible implications regarding measures to foster women's careers in computing are discussed along with prospects for future research.