Validating a CS Attitudes Instrument

Authors

Ryan Bockmon, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Stephen Cooper, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
Jonathan Gratch, Texas Woman’s University, DentonFollow
Mohsen Dorodchi, University of North Carolina at CharlotteFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

3-14-2020

Citation

2020 Copyright held by the owner/author(s).

https://doi.org/10.1145/3328778.3366830

Comments

Paper Session: CS Curriculum SIGCSE ’20, March 11–14, 2020, Portland, OR, USA

Abstract

This paper discusses the validation of a modified computer science attitudes instrument. Dorn and Tew’s Computing Attitude Survey was modified by adding questions on gender issues and questions regarding students’ perceptions of the utility of computing. Current trends indicate an increasing gap in the genders graduating with degrees in computer science. The new questions explore student attitudes and perceptions of women in computing while items related to computer science utility explore the importance of CS in students’ lives and careers. These modifications necessitated the re-validation of the new revised instrument and comparison of the results obtained with in the original instrument by Dorn and Tew.