Women who Code: An Analysis of Engagement Programs for Women in Computer Science

Abstract

The number of women studying computer science in the United States is at historic lows. As of 2019 nationwide, less than 20% of computer science majors were women. One of the solutions is to increase exposure to students in high school to computer science. This study analyzes one such summer program, Artificial Intelligence for All (AI4ALL), to see to what extent a three-week camp can improve interest in computer science. Based on the theory that the main reason women are not majoring in computer science is because of cultural stereotypes about the field itself this study analyzes the pre and post surveys from the students across all six university locations where AI4ALL had a program in summer 2018. It also recommends a new survey instrument for the AI4ALL program with the goal of causal inference, long term follow up, and expansion to learnings to other programs like AI4ALL.