Majoring in Information Systems

Abstract

The importance of role models on individuals’ academic and career development and success has been widely acknowledged in the literature. The purpose of this study was to understand the influence of role models on students’ decisions to major in information systems (IS). Utilizing a model derived from the social cognitive career theory, we examined how and why role models influence students’ interest in and choice of a major in the IS discipline. Our findings indicate that role models do not have a direct effect on students’ aspirations to major in IS. However, we found that the effects of role models on students’ academic choices are channeled indirectly through self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and interest factors. Association with role models increases students’ confidence in their abilities to perform well as an IS major and raises their expectancies about the valued rewards that will be received by majoring in IS. Role models also increase students’ interest in IS majors and careers, which in turn promotes students’ aspirations to pursue the IS major.