Exploring students’ motivations in choosing to study information systems: is there a gender difference? A survey study in Norway

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the motivations of undergraduate students in choosing to study the information systems (IS) program and explore gender differences in students’ motivations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines the results of an online survey of undergraduate IS students at a public university in Norway. An online survey was used to collect the data from undergraduate students who enrolled in an introductory IS course. T-test was used to test the differences between male and female students.

Findings

The results identified that career-related factors such as job availability and job security were the two most prominent factors for both male and female students to choose IS. The results also show that male and female students have essentially similar motivations to choose IS. There were only two significant differences found between female and male students in the perceptions of the importance of factors that influence the decision to choose IS: “personal interest in subject matter” and “ease of study topics.” Male students rated the importance of personal interest and ease of study topics significantly higher than female students.

Originality/value

Despite the fact that Norway is a highly digitalized and gender-equal country, women are still underrepresented in IT-related jobs and higher education studies. Findings from this study will help to understand the motivations of students in choosing IS and gender differences in their motivations in a highly gender-equal and digitalized European country.

Citation

Acilar, A. and Sæbø, Ø. (2022), "Exploring students’ motivations in choosing to study information systems: is there a gender difference? A survey study in Norway", VINE Journal of Information and Knowledge Management Systems, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/VJIKMS-12-2021-0315