Factors Associated With Women's Interest In Computing Fields

This paper presents a theoretically driven and empirically supported model that identifies key factors that predict high school and college women’s interest and choice in a career in information technology (IT). At the center of the model is the developmental construct of selfauthorship and variables related to the process individuals use to make personal and educational decisions. For female high school and college students, the expression of interest in a career in the IT field is often made with little concrete information from sources outside of the immediate circle of trusted friends and family members. Findings have direct implications for recruiting and advising practice.