Feeling the weight of the water: a longitudinal study of how capital and identity shape young people’s computer science trajectories over time, age 10–21

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Background and Context: There is a call for more young people to continue into higher education computer science (CS). Objective: To understand young people’s choices into and away from CS, by addressing the inequalities their trajectories as shaped over time and in relation to their capital and identities. Method: Ninety-four longitudinal interviews were conducted with nine young people and their parents from age 10/11 to age 21/22, analysed through the lens of identity and capital. Findings: CS-related capital facilitated “smooth” transitions into CS-degrees, with family capital being salient in the choice-process, and out-of-school experiences for navigating CS-courses. Other young people faced disjunctures between their capital, identity and the field of CS education, feeling “the weight of the water”, experiencing study challenges and being at risk of withdrawing. Finally, a group of young people were “navigating a different waterway”, reflecting a greater fit with a different field. Implications: We call for actions to broadening what counts as CS.

Original languageEnglish
JournalComputer Science Education
ISSN0899-3408
DOIs
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

    Research areas

  • aspirations, choices, computer science, computer science identities, Science capital

ID: 391034885