“The Only Person Who Cares”: Misperceptions of Mentoring Among Faculty and Students in IT Programs

Abstract

Notes

¹We recognize that computer science can have an applied dimension, and that the cognate fields of information systems, information science, informatics, and so on have theoretical and conceptual dimensions akin to conventional computer science. We use the term “applied fields” as a shorthand to denote the greater focus on applied technologies that distinguish these IT disciplines from computer science.

²Although these response rates are not unusual for Web-based surveys. Because this is not a random sample survey, we make no claims of representativeness. We believe, however, that these responses are not atypical for most students studying in information technology programs in the United States.

³The set of questions we analyzed are in the Appendix.

⁴The question related to student satisfaction was explored only for undergraduates since that was the only group of students for whom we had sufficient numbers to do the statistical analysis.

⁵The acceptable level for Chronbach's alpha is usually set at .70.

⁶Variables included in the scale included satisfaction with decision to major in IT, belief that the responded chose the best of all possible subjects to study, enjoyment with the school work in the major, the degree to which the major inspires the respondent to do his/her best, and holding similar values to those in the selected field.