Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Compared with their perceptions of the IS graduates' initial background, the respon-
dents feel they:
•
Are weaker at mathematics (Item #1)
•
Entered MSCD with a stronger computer background (Item #2)
Compared with their perceptions of the IS graduate's first job, the respondents expect
to:
•
Spend less time writing computer programs (Item #3)
•
Spend more time interacting with other persons (Item #4)
•
Spend less time working alone (Item #5)
•
Be less involved in designing computer hardware (Item #6)
•
Interact less with other computer people (Item #7)
•
Receive a higher starting salary (Item #8)
•
Be less involved in helping managers select new computer systems (Item #9)
These results are consistent with those of Mawhinney, et al. (1985), except that they
did not find significant differences for Items #1 and #2.
The first part of the second hypothesis (Table 2) compared the responses from the
current students against the responses from the original study concerning their own
background and preferred work style. The analysis was performed using t-tests for indepen-
Table 2. Perceptions of SELF: MSCD vs. Bentley students
Mean
Standard Deviation
Item MSCD Bentley t-value Signif MSCD Bentley f-value Signif
1
2.71
2.59
1.14
1.03
1.04
0.99
2
2.99
2.52
4.07 ***
1.17
1.11
1.11
3
2.24
1.77
4.76 ***
1.00
0.72
1.93
*
4
4.19
4.10
0.41
2.32
0.65
12.69
*
5
2.45
2.21
2.45
*
0.98
0.84
1.37
*
6
2.12
1.67
4.80 ***
0.94
0.72
1.69
*
7
2.63
2.21
3.71 ***
1.15
0.85
1.83
*
8
3.49
3.41
0.89
1.01
0.90
1.25
9
2.89
2.58
2.65
**
1.15
0.98
1.38
*
(2-tailed) * p
<
0.05 ** p
<
0.01 *** p
<
0.001
