ICT Job Opportunities for Girls: A Research Proposal

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CIS8500: Assignment 2
Research proposal Report
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Abstract
This research proposal is about the job opportunities that the girls are having in the field of ICT
and gaining the knowledge about the factors that are constructing or discouraging girls for
choosing ICT as the option for the future career goal. For making this research proposal firstly
the objective of the research was formulated and later on the basis of the research objective the
research questions were formed. The first research questions focus on ICT career opportunities
for girls. Secondary questions focus on the factors putting resistance or discouraging girls for
ICT education, what growth can be made in the career of girls through the ICT, and what
measures can high school opt for enhancement of ICT education of girls.
The conceptual framework was formed by making use of the “STEM Cell” model as this cell
will help the researcher in conducting the research for the ICT and it will also promote the girls
for choosing ICT as their career goal. The literature review was done considering the views of
different authors with respect to the subject matter and the quantitative research methodology
was chosen as the method for collecting the data for the research. The random sampling
techniques will be chosen and for analyzing the data various tests will be conducted including
the reliability and validity test, SPSS, normality test, and Chi-squared test. The limitations and
delimitations of research include that there will be limited time and finance for conducting the
research and the sample chosen is very small that the results cannot be relied upon completely.
Confidentiality, results of research, advocacy and intervention are some of the ethical issues that
may be faced by the researcher in the research proposal.
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Contents
Abstract............................................................................................................................................2
1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................4
2. Research Questions......................................................................................................................5
2.1 General Research question....................................................................................................5
2.2 Specific research questions....................................................................................................5
3. Conceptual Framework................................................................................................................7
4. Literature review..........................................................................................................................9
4.1 ICT as a career.......................................................................................................................9
4.2 Factors discouraging girls for choosing ICT as a career option............................................9
5. Methods.....................................................................................................................................11
6. Significance...............................................................................................................................13
7. Limitations and delimitations....................................................................................................14
8. Ethical Issues.............................................................................................................................15
9. References..................................................................................................................................16
10. Appendix 1...............................................................................................................................17
Critical review journal and reflection report.............................................................................17
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1. Introduction
ICT “Information communication technology” sector is considered as one of the exciting areas
of working. Various numbers of areas are involved in this sector from business consulting,
development, programming, marketing, and sales role. There are various carrier opportunities in
this field for the graduates as they can not only find different jobs in the domains such as
Telecom and IT but can also seek jobs in real estate, financial services, or manufacturing or other
industries. A career in the ICT field includes different tasks and roles that are associated with
installing, planning, monitoring, and researching the IT systems’ performance. ICT is the fastest
growing sector in the world and it can be developed as a great career opportunity for women and
girls. The ICT helps in improving the lives of people through better management of the
environment, a better system of education, and better communication which helps in
transforming the learning of adults.
The main aim of this report is to understand and analyze the career and job opportunities for girls
in ICT. The girls’ proportion in this field is less in comparison to the boys. The research will be
conducted for analyzing the reasons why the participation of girls is less in the ICT field, what
factors are discouraging them to go for their career in this field. The analysis will also be made
with respect to the attitudes of girls regarding ICT.
This project report will include the research questions on the basis of which the whole research
will be conducted. The literature review will be conducted on the ICT job opportunities for the
girls and what growth can be gained by them in their career which will make their future bright.
Different methods will be used for conducting the research and data collection methods will be
adopted so as to collect the data with regard to the ICT job and carrier opportunities for girls and
women. The significance of the research will be described along with the limitations and merits
of the research. Various ethical issues will also be explained in detail which are occurring during
the research.
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2. Research Questions
The research questions are the main core of the project of research, literature review and study
and are considered as the keystone of the entire project. The research questions are framed on the
basis of the research problems and issues. The whole research is conducted on the basis of these
questions so it is very significant that these questions should be framed with the utmost care and
with deep analysis. As the concentration of the researcher, his efforts are made towards getting
the answer to the research questions. If research questions are wrongly framed then the whole
research will fail as it will not be able to provide the relevant answers to the questions. A good
research question should be feasible, clear, significant and ethical. These should be timely mean
that it should get completed within the specified time period. It should be attainable, measurable,
and specific. The research questions for this project report have been prepared after considering
all the above characteristics of research questions (Sáinz, et. al, 2012).
2.1 General Research question-
What are the ICT job opportunities for girls?
2.2 Specific research questions-
 What are the factors that are discouraging the girl’s participation in ICT field?
 What carrier growth is there in ICT?
 What measures can be adopted by the high schools for enhancing the girl’s skills towards
the ICT?
After conducting the research based on these questions the educational practice of the researcher
will improve. The knowledge and the learnings will be gained regarding the ICT and the various
job opportunities that are available through ICT and what career growth can take place both for
boys and girls. The research objectives, research delivery, and research approach will be focused
through the research questions.
These research questions will provide the guidance to the researcher for the manner in which the
research should be conducted and what methodology should be adopted so as to ensure of getting
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the relevant answers through which best output or the results can be reached at. After selecting
the research method, the researcher will get to know about the factors that are influencing the
girls or discouraging them towards the ICT field and opting for their career in ICT. Through this
research, various measures or the methods that should be adopted by the high schools will be
identified that will help the learners in enhancing the girl’s knowledge and skills that can fit as
per the requirements of the ICT. The main focus will be on ICT opportunities and career growth
for girls.
These research questions will form the way for the literature review and various articles, journals
and online websites and relevant blogs will be used for the literature review of the ICT job
opportunities for girls and women, what are the factors due to which there is discouragement
among them for opting this as their career option (Roberts, et. al, 2012).
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3. Conceptual Framework
For the conduction of the research regarding the in-depth analysis of the ICT job opportunities
for girls and factors that discourage them in their participation, the model “STEM Cell” will be
used. This modified framework will be used for creating the online questionnaire which will
gather the data from both boys and girls who are studying at the high schools and are between
the age group of 15 to 18. The information technology will be combined with ‘STEM’ in the
broader fields of STEM such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and ‘cell' will
look at the individual. This framework will be used as a lens for making the judgment about
student’s likelihood regarding the choosing ICT for future career and study. Many factors will be
considered for this purpose so as to understand the reasons behind those factors which are
resisting girls for ICT (Akinsowon, and Osisanwo, 2014). These factors are the following
constructs social IT, social factors, culture, structure. The contribution will be made by each
construct for making a decision with regard to choosing ICT as a future career path.
The conceptual framework that is adapted is shown below-
Figure: New framework based on a model of "Stem Cell"
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c h o s s in g IC T a s c a r e e r p a th
Culture
Social
Structure
Social IT

The four constructs are identified from the adapted framework including structure, social IT,
cultural, and social and each construct has its own factors and context that may encourage or
discourage girls for their participation and it will also present the obstacles that disincentives or
incentives girl’s participation in ICT. The discussion will be made of each construct from the
adapted framework in the literature review for giving the background of some attitudes and
perceptions that will be measured through the questionnaire. The reliable decision or judgments
will be made with the help of this model regarding the present and future aspects of girls in ICT
education participation (Roberts, et. al, 2012).
The deep knowledge of the concerned framework will be required so that it will enable the
researcher to studying the views and perceptions of girls and women for choosing ICT. There is
a great significance of using the “STEM cell model” for conducting this research study. The
better understanding will be developed which will help the girls in identifying the niche or core
areas of a career in ICT. A base will be established which will ensure the maximum
participation of girls leading for their future career growth opportunities. This model will provide
the broad parameter which will assist girls in a better way in the ICT education evaluation so that
the effective opportunities for the job can be grabbed in the ICT field.
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4. Literature review
4.1 ICT as a career
According to Clayton, et. al, 2012, internet, computer, and system of electronic devices such as
projectors, televisions, and radios are included in ICT and its use is made widely in the field of
education today. The programs of ICT strives the students for educating to make assumptions
with regard to the roles of leadership where IT’s application is connected with ultimate goals of
connecting communities, people, organizations for enhancing the abilities of students to get
success in their life (Clayton, et. al, 2012). The arena of ICT includes various occupations
namely database analyst, web marketing manager, privacy coordinator, digital strategist,
computer support specialist, mobilization specialist, information assurance analyst, staff
technologist, and many more. In addition to this Siiman, et. al, 2014 argued that within ten years
there will be much growth in the employment rates in the sector of ICT (Siiman, et. al, 2014).
4.2 Factors discouraging girls for choosing ICT as a career option
According to Clerc, and Kels, 2013 the participation of girls in ICT field is decreasing as an
option for their career instead of knowing the fact that there are various opportunities in ICT for
the job. There are four factors that are affecting the ICT participation of girls which are described
below-
Culture- As per Chen, and McDonald, 2015 the parental and cultural expectations are
influencing the girls for choosing ICT as a career option. The mainstream of culture includes
attitudes, ideas, perspective, images, and other phenomenon factors. The popular culture of
people affects the way they interact and view with ICT. The cultural norms influence the
expectations of parents. The society is more cosmopolitan if the cultural norms are less rigid and
influential. The career choice made by the students are affected by the family norms and cultures
as the discussion is made by the students regarding their career with their family members and
the generation gap become hurdles for the girls as they resist the girls for choosing ICT as their
future career option (Chen, and McDonald, 2015).
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Structure- In the words of Motilewa, et. al, 2015 the structure construct includes factors such as
teachers, ICT industry, and career advisors that influence the students through high school or
works. In the educational life of the student, the choice for the future career is made early and
having lack of knowledge and understanding about the ICT industry can lead the students
especially girls off to the track of ICT. The education sector in high school has issues in
recruiting the new staff of teaching into the ICT subject. The learning experience that is gained
by students through curriculum and teachers plays an important role as they pose an impact on
the self-efficiency of students and the outcome for their expectations. Career advises provided by
the career advisors if is gender bias then it affecting the decision of girls towards the ICT field
(Motilewa, et. al, 2015).
# Social IT- Salehi, H. and Salehi, 2012, argued that the numerous factors are there that have
changed the social media’s landscape, terminology, and technology used by the students. The
social era is represented by the #social IT, the technology of the current disruption in its
application that influences the environment or the platform of the students in ICT. Facebook,
WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Tumblr, and many more are such social technologies
that have become an integral part of the students. The opportunity is provided by the social
media especially to the girls for expressing their creativity within the world of ‘net neutral’. By
making use of these revolutionary technologies the girls can prosper and make the world to show
their innovative and technological skills in the landscape of the new disruption (Salehi, H. and
Salehi, 2012).
Social- The argument of Olatokun, 2017 was that peers, mentoring, role models, and media are
some of the factors that influence the students through social interaction. The girls of Australia
are continuously rejecting their career in ICT due to the stereotypes and perceptions. These nerdy
and geeky stereotypes are putting a negative connotation on the girls and making them to not opt
for the ICT subjects in their high school. These stereotypes can be enhanced by the films,
electronic media, print and television that ICT is the occupation for boys (Olatokun, 2017).
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5. Methods
For collecting the data for the research the online questionnaire will be used. The analysis will
be based on 11 students who are studying in high school. The quantitative research methodology
will be adopted for analyzing the ICT job opportunities for girls and factors that are discouraging
them. The quantitative method of research will be more objective and reliable; the sample
assumption will work as a representative of the population.
For the conduction of the quantitative research for collecting the data, the online questionnaire
will be used as the data collection instrument. The questionnaire will be presented to the girls of
the high school and will be presented in five sections. The four sections will be based on the
framework of Stem Cell. One section will cover the questions about the student's demographics.
One section will cover family values and background based on the family input’s perceptions
into the career path of participants and knowledge regarding the industry of ICT. One of the
sections will cover the questions in which the students will be asked about the influence and
participant’s perceptions through friends, role model, and stereotypes. There will be one section
in which the structural factors related questions will be asked mentioning about the influence that
industry, home, family, and high school have on participants. At the end what perceptions the
participants have with respect to their future career after leaving the high school or about the
ICT. The Likert scale will be used in the questionnaire from one to five in which five being
“completely agree” and one being “completely disagree” (Wisdom, et. al, 2012).
The random sampling technique will be used in which 11 students will be chosen from the
students of high school and will be asked questions for getting the answers in relation to the ICT
job opportunities and their perceptions and factors that keep on discouraging them.
For analyzing the research data “Statistical Package for the social science” (SPSS) will be used
for calculating the results from the data that will be gathered. The frequency analysis will be
conducted by using the first technique which will show the information about the number of
students that would answer the questions. The normality test will also be conducted in the
second procedure. This will enable a better understanding of the factors discouraging the girl’s
participation in ICT education (Banyai, and Glover, 2012). Cronbach’s Alpha will be used for
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conducting the validity and reliability test. This will give the subject matter's good
understanding. Reliability and validation tests will be carried out by making a comparison of the
constructs against each question. In the fourth procedure, the Chi-squared test will be conducted
for gaining knowledge about the girl's participation in the career of ICT.
All these tests will make the researcher better able to analyze the data and the subject matter
related to this. All these techniques and tools will help in evaluating the positive and the negative
aspects of the subject matter leading to better judgments (Wisdom, et. al, 2012).
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