A Mixed-methods Investigation of Factors that Influence Students to Study a Computer Science Major in Scotland and Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This thesis investigates the factors that influenced students to choose a Computer Science (CS) related major at university in both Scotland and Saudi Arabia. The research used Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) to investigate the role of self efficacy, prior experience, social support, and outcome expectation in influencing this choice. The research also investigated the influence of society’s perceptions of a Computer Science degree. Scotland and Saudi Arabia are compared, as there is much greater gender balance in Saudi Arabia. The main contribution of the thesis is to identify factors which could help increase female participation in Computer Science, particularly in Scotland. The findings also have the potential to enhance the experience of all students prior to university. The research used an exploratory sequential mixed methods design, starting with semi-structured interviews (17 from Scotland, 11 from Saudi Arabia), followed by an online questionnaire to confirm and expand the initial results (192 responses from Scotland, 341 from Saudi Arabia). The research found that prior experience was not a major influence on student decisions, perhaps because the school curriculum is too focused on applications rather than on programming and problem solving. Encouragement from others seemed to play a major role, particularly for females in Scotland. Increasing the visibility of female role models has the potential to increase female participation. Self-efficacy seemed to be an important influence, derived from maths and problem-solving skills, prior use of technology in daily life, or an interest in creating and designing new things. The expected outcomes from a Computer Science major were found to be a very strong influence, with many students choosing Computer Science rather than their favourite school subject because of this. Society’s perception of a Computer Science major, and those who study it, VII could be an influence, particularly in Scotland if Computer Science is viewed as male dominated