research-article

Student perceptions of computer science: a retention study comparing graduating seniors with cs leavers

Authors:

Maureen Biggers,

Anne Brauer,

Tuba YilmazAuthors Info & Claims

SIGCSE '08: Proceedings of the 39th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education

Pages 402 - 406

https://doi.org/10.1145/1352135.1352274

Published: 12 March 2008 Publication History

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Abstract

Students who develop a strong interest in another field can hardly be fair target for retention efforts. There are others, however, who might do very well in this field but who leave computer science because of misunderstandings about and a negative experience in this academic major. Retention literature suggests and provides numerous examples of initiatives that improve student retention. To determine how best to impact student retention in your computer science department, a comprehensive understanding of the student experience of your major is essential. Not only is it important to know why students leave your major, but an understanding of why they stay can be useful in developing high impact initiatives.

The current study involves a comparative examination of students who graduated from the computer science (CS) major at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia (Stayers) with students who chose to leave the major (Leavers). Specifically, perceptions and experiences of computer science as a field in general and the climate of the major were studied. Comparative data collected provided insights into reasons why they entered into the major, about belief of adequate preparation and confidence going into the major, definitions of CS and other related factors. Results were analyzed to identify potential target areas and concrete implementation strategies are suggested for improved retention in the computer science major at this institution.

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Zavaleta Bernuy AChung AHodge ATayyiba ALiut MPetersen A(2024)Student Transitions Through an Entire Computing ProgramProceedings of the 26th Western Canadian Conference on Computing Education10.1145/3660650.3660661(1-7)Online publication date: 2-May-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3660650.3660661
Prickett TCrick TDavenport JBowers DHayes AIrons AMonga MLonati VBarendsen ESheard JPaterson J(2024)Embedding Technical, Personal and Professional Competencies in Computing Degree ProgrammesProceedings of the 2024 on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3649217.3653578(346-352)Online publication date: 3-Jul-2024
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Darling-Wolf HPatitsas E(2024)"Not my Priority:" Ethics and the Boundaries of Computer Science Identities in Undergraduate CS EducationProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36410138:CSCW1(1-28)Online publication date: 26-Apr-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3641013
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Student perceptions of computer science: a retention study comparing graduating seniors with cs leavers
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Information

Published In

SIGCSE '08: Proceedings of the 39th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education

March 2008

606 pages

ISBN:9781595937995

DOI:10.1145/1352135

General Chairs:
J. D. Dougherty
Haverford College
,
Susan Rodger
Duke University
,
Program Chairs:
Sue Fitzgerald
Metropolitan State University
,
Mark Guzdial
Georgia Institute of Technology

ACM SIGCSE Bulletin Volume 40, Issue 1
SIGCSE 08
March 2008
549 pages
ISSN:0097-8418
DOI:10.1145/1352322
Issue’s Table of Contents

Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for components of this work owned by others than ACM must be honored. Abstracting with credit is permitted. To copy otherwise, or republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to lists, requires prior specific permission and/or a fee. Request permissions from [email protected]

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Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

Publication History

Published: 12 March 2008

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SIGCSE '08

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SIGCSE '08: The 39th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education

March 12 - 15, 2008

OR, Portland, USA

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Overall Acceptance Rate 1,595 of 4,542 submissions, 35%

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Zavaleta Bernuy AChung AHodge ATayyiba ALiut MPetersen A(2024)Student Transitions Through an Entire Computing ProgramProceedings of the 26th Western Canadian Conference on Computing Education10.1145/3660650.3660661(1-7)Online publication date: 2-May-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3660650.3660661
Prickett TCrick TDavenport JBowers DHayes AIrons AMonga MLonati VBarendsen ESheard JPaterson J(2024)Embedding Technical, Personal and Professional Competencies in Computing Degree ProgrammesProceedings of the 2024 on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3649217.3653578(346-352)Online publication date: 3-Jul-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3649217.3653578
Darling-Wolf HPatitsas E(2024)"Not my Priority:" Ethics and the Boundaries of Computer Science Identities in Undergraduate CS EducationProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36410138:CSCW1(1-28)Online publication date: 26-Apr-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3641013
Sibia NBernuy ASimovic THuang CTan YSeong ENobre CZingaro DLiut MPetersen A(2024)Exploring the Effects of Grouping by Programming Experience in Q&A ForumsProceedings of the 2024 ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research - Volume 110.1145/3632620.3671107(206-221)Online publication date: 12-Aug-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3632620.3671107
Sibia NBui GWang BTan YZavaleta Bernuy ABauer CWilliams JLiut MPetersen AStephenson BStone JBattestilli LRebelsky SShoop L(2024)Examining Intention to Major in Computer Science: Perceived Potential and ChallengesProceedings of the 55th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3626252.3630843(1237-1243)Online publication date: 7-Mar-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3626252.3630843
Baghban Karimi OToti GGutica MRobinson RZhang LPaterson JLindner PO'Dea MLaakso MMonga MSimon Sheard J(2023)Enhancing Diversity and Inclusion in Computer Science Undergraduate Programs: The Role of AdmissionsProceedings of the 2023 Working Group Reports on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education10.1145/3623762.3633496(1-29)Online publication date: 22-Dec-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3623762.3633496
Große-bölting GGerstenberger DGildehaus LMühling ASchulte C(2023)Identity in Higher Computer Education Research: A Systematic Literature ReviewACM Transactions on Computing Education10.1145/360670723:3(1-35)Online publication date: 12-Sep-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3606707
Sibia NZavaleta Bernuy AWilliams JLiut MPetersen ALaakso MMonga MSimon Sheard J(2023)Student Usage of Q&A Forums: Signs of Discomfort?Proceedings of the 2023 Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3587102.3588842(33-39)Online publication date: 29-Jun-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3587102.3588842
Runa SAntoniadi ABecker BMooney C(2023)Student Sense of Belonging: The Role of Gender Identity and Minoritisation in Computing and Other SciencesProceedings of the 25th Australasian Computing Education Conference10.1145/3576123.3576133(87-96)Online publication date: 30-Jan-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3576123.3576133
Isenegger KGeorge KBruno PLewis CDoyle MStephenson BDorn BSoh LBattestilli L(2023)Goal-Congruity Theory Predicts Students' Sense of Belonging in Computing Across Racial/Ethnic GroupsProceedings of the 54th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 110.1145/3545945.3569834(1069-1075)Online publication date: 2-Mar-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3545945.3569834
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