Exploring young people’s perceptions and discourses of technology occupations through descriptive drawings and a questionnaire

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background and Context Cultural and social influences from peers, family, and media shape young people’s views on technology careers. This study examines Danish students’ perceptions and discourses of IT professionals and technology occupations. Objective Unlike earlier studies focusing on science or STEM as a monolith, this study specifically addresses technology through descriptive drawings and Latent Profile Analysis (LPA). Method We analyse Danish students’ (aged 14–15) perceptions and discourses of IT professionals through descriptive drawings (N = 1,155) and LPA applied to close-ended items from a large questionnaire (N = 1,456). Findings Thematic analysis identified six groups of IT professionals: 1) Sedentary, 2) Antisocial and Nerdy, 3) Sad, 4) Ordinary, 5) Smart, and 6) Kind. The LPA identified four profiles, revealing complex subtleties in students’ perceptions. Implications Implications for practice and future research are suggested, highlighting the potential benefits of combining these methods to explore young people’s constructions of IT professionals.