Design and analysis of a computer science social networking application to broaden participation in computing

Abstract

The number of women in the field of computer science remains low both in industry and academic environments. Occupational statistics and degree information indicate that the field is missing a large percentage of its potential labor force. Research suggests that one major reason behind this phenomenon is the lack of encouragement for women in these fields. One way to improve encouragement is to promote networking among those who are involved or are considering becoming involved in CS-related areas. Connections formed by networking provide both social and professional support and can lead to greater recruitment and retention. This thesis concerns the design and implementation of a social networking tool to improve networking within the CS community at Mines. The system was developed and analyzed via user surveys to gauge the site's effect on networking; we also evaluated usage to determine which parts of the site were most effective and useful.