A Framework for Understanding Minority Students' Cyber Security Career Interests

Recently, a demand toward IT workforce in a cyber security arena is showing an increasing trend. However, underrepresentation of minority workforce in the IT industry is one of reasons for the scarcity of skilled labors in the information security industry. This paper presents various factors that contribute to students’ motivation and interest in a cyber security career by exploring career choice theories. This paper investigates, based on the social cognitive theory, the factors that affect students’ intrinsic motivation to pursue an information security careers. It further suggests a theoretical framework that explains relationships among students’ cyber security career self-efficacy, barriers and cyber security career interests. Finally, this study proposes a research framework that explains minority students’ cyber security career choices.

[1]  Robert W. Lent,et al.  Career choice barriers, supports, and coping strategies: College students' experiences. , 2002 .

[2]  A. Bandura,et al.  Self-efficacy beliefs as shapers of children's aspirations and career trajectories. , 2001, Child development.

[3]  David A. Jepsen,et al.  Testing a Social Cognitive Model of Career Choice Development within the Context of a Minority Teacher Recruitment Program. , 1999 .

[4]  M. Martinez-pons,et al.  Mathematics Self-Efficacy, Ethnic Identity, Gender, and Career Interests Related to Mathematics and Science , 1999 .

[5]  Margaret M. Nauta,et al.  Women's Career Development: Can Theoretically Derived Variables Predict Persistence in Engineering Majors?. , 1997 .

[6]  E. McWhirter,et al.  Perceived Barriers to Education and Career: Ethnic and Gender Differences☆ , 1997 .

[7]  M. Lewis.  A Social Cognitive Framework for Studying Career Choice and Transition to Work. , 1996 .

[8]  Deborah Compeau,et al.  Computer Self-Efficacy: Development of a Measure and Initial Test , 1995, MIS Q..

[9]  D. Schunk.  Self-Efficacy and Education and Instruction , 1995 .

[10]  Steven D. Brown,et al.  Toward a Unifying Social Cognitive Theory of Career and Academic Interest, Choice, and Performance , 1994 .

[11]  Darrell Anthony Luzzo.  Ethnic Differences in College Students' Perceptions of Barriers to Career Development. , 1993 .

[12]  Nancy E. Betz,et al.  Gender, Ethnicity, and Social Cognitive Factors Predicting the Academic Achievement of Students in Engineering. , 1992 .

[13]  D. M. Tokar,et al.  Development and initial validation of the Career Barriers Inventory , 1991 .

[14]  D. M. Tokar,et al.  College students' perceptions of barriers to career development , 1991 .

[15]  Steven D. Brown,et al.  Comparison of Three Theoretically Derived Variables in Predicting Career and Academic Behavior: Self-Efficacy, Interest Congruence, and Consequence Thinking. , 1987 .

[16]  J. Russell,et al.  A comparative study of age-related variation in women's views of a career in management☆ , 1987 .

[17]  Robert W. Lent,et al.  Career self-efficacy: Empirical status and future directions , 1987 .

[18]  A. Bandura.  Social Foundations of Thought and Action , 1986 .

[19]  Nancy E. Betz,et al.  A self-efficacy approach to the career development of women , 1981 .

[20]  Helen S. Farmer.  What Inhibits Achievement and Career Motivation in Women? , 1976 .