Women are underrepresented in the field of Computer Science. Research shows that girls who hold strong stereotypes about programming have lower interest and self-efficacy in programming, which correlates with their career orientation. However, research on the stereotypes children hold about computer scientists is inconclusive. The goal of this project is to research stereotypes that children hold about computer scientists, whether these stereotypes are affected by a virtual intervention with role models, and whether visual and textual instruments yield similar results. As a result the researchers will deliver an instrument for measuring which stereotypes children hold and videos in which computer scientists explain what computer science is. The results of the project will be presented during the Digital Society Conference in November 2020.

Digital transformation

New digital technologies are being developed very rapidly. Digital transformations are characterised by narratives of promises and fears, and they share complex questions about, for example, inclusion and participation of individuals, groups and communities. To deal with these rapid changes there is a need to collaborate between academic researcher, policy makers, industry and civil society. The project 'Stereotyping in Computer Science' is an excellent example of such a collaboration.