Vocational interests of female computer programmers.

Abstract

Abstract : Scores of 293 female computer programmers on the Strong Vocational Interest Blank (SVIB) for men were found to be quite similar to those of male programmers, although the women had somewhat higher interests in aesthetic and scientific fields and lower interests in technical and technical supervision occupations. Interest items characteristic of female programmers indicate a strong interest in all forms of mathematics and disinterest in people. Several interest keys were developed from items that are in the SVIBs for both men and women and that differentiate female programmers from other professional women. A key containing responses with 12 percent or higher differences was selected for use. It showed 23 percent overlapping of professional women in general with a group of female programmers not used in key construction. Programmers who are dissatisfied with their occupation score significantly lower on the key than do satisfied programmers. Normative data for the female computer programmer key and for women's scores on the male computer programmer key are provided. (Author)