The computer science debate: it's a matter of perspective

This paper examines some of the ongoing identity challenges for the computer science community: definition, purpose, pedagogy, and curriculum drivers. This research contends that there are three primary social theories driving one's perspective of computer science: resource based theory, resource dependency theory, and social exchange theory. A conceptual framework is presented that examines the likely definition, purpose, pedagogy, and curriculum drivers for each perspective. The framework was evaluated in a qualitative study using the e-mails threads from a discussion on the SIGCSE listserv. The results of this study and the implications of future of computer science are discussed.