Abstract
This paper aims to determine the factors affecting the decisions of both male and female secondary school pupils whether or not to pursue undergraduate studies in Computing. It is based on research conducted in Greece, on a sample of 248 pupils, 135 of whom were female. All were aged 17 and about to decide on their future undergraduate studies. Questionnaires were used, addressing issues in the following four main categories: a) the reasons pupils chose/rejected Computing, b) how family and friends, the media and the school environment contribute to their decision, c) how pupils perceived their future after studying Computing and d) how pupils perceived the profile of a computer professional in terms of gender.
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Notes
In Greece, all high school pupils take examinations in order to enter University. Depending on their grades, they enter one of the schools for which they have previously registered. In terms of entry requirements, computing departments are among the most competitive and demanding in Greece.
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Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Eleni Thermogianni for helping in the collection of the data used in this study and to Stephen Taylor at TES-Patras for proof reading and assisting with our English.
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Tsagala, E., Kordaki, M. Critical factors influencing secondary school pupil’s decisions to study computing in tertiary education: Gender differences. Educ Inf Technol 12, 281–295 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-006-9026-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-006-9026-0