Final Report

Project: Exploring the Intersection of Black/AA Women CS Majors and how they Identify with

the Field

Motivation: This purpose of this project is to examine the context for how Black women computer science (CS) majors identify with the field of CS at different stages of their matriculation. Due to unfavorable stereotypes and perceptions that CS can impose on underrepresented groups like Black women, such presumptions have been noted to impose an adverse impact on their representation. Likewise, these actions can serve as determinants for how Black women identify with the field of CS. To study this intersection in greater detail, case studies are being conducted on a sample of Black women CS majors at Morgan State University, who are in one of three different stages of their exposure to the CS matriculation experience. These three stages will be comprised of: 1) Freshmen and Sophomore majors who are in the early stages of their matriculation, 2) Juniors and Seniors who are in the later stages their matriculation and/or in preparation of graduating with their degrees in CS, and 3) Postgraduates who are embarking upon the next chapter of their lives as practitioners in the field of CS. Qualitative insights about Black women’s CS identity are collected through a series of focus groups on Black women participants in CS who represent each of the three aforementioned stages of the CS matriculation experience, respectively. One objective for these focus groups is to capture and examine primary data about these women’s experiences and facets of their CS identity at different stages of their participation and contribution to the CS community. We will also explore the factors that contribute to their CS identification at these various stages. Another objective is to study how these women identify with the field of CS at these different stages to see if such identities potentially evolve over time. In meeting these objectives, we seek to better understand how Black women’s CS identification is shaped by the intersection of their racialized and gendered experiences.

Official Timeline: The following table provides a timeline and descriptive details for the aforementioned case study:

Table 1: Timeline and Descriptive

Details Recruiting & Pre Survey (Already Complete): - Recruited Black/AA Female CS Majors (N=25) from 3 different stages on the CS matriculation

experience (Recruited occurred throughout February 2021).

- Each recruited participant received a Pre Survey with containing both demographical and preliminary questions about their current identity and experiences in CS (Pre Surveys were administered throughout February 2021).

Focus Group Assessments (Occurring Now): - These 25 participants were assigned to 1 of 13 focus groups assessments that comprised of

1 to 3 participants per session (Dates ranged from March 25th to April 12th).

- The main objective of the focus group assessments were to gather feedback from the participants regarding 1) how they identify with CS and 2) their personal experiences as a CS majors/practitioners in the field.

- During some of these focus group discussions, I assisted with asking a set of questions to these participants.

Data Analysis & Report (April & May 2021): - Each focus group assessment was conducted via Zoom and recorded for further analysis.

- These recordings will be transcribed using a professional transcribing system called Rev.com.

- I will personally be assigned the responsibility to clean and analyze the data from the PRE surveys that were administered in February. He will receive training and guidance from Dr. Dillon with this process.

- If necessary, I will submit (or present) a report to his COSC 499 course that consists of his

experiences with this project as well as notable findings that were detected in the PRE

Survey of this case study.