A Qualitative Approach to Understanding Computing Self-Efficacy Development Among Girls of Color

Research on increasing diversity in computing requires focused investigations of how girls of color develop their self-efficacy beliefs. Measures of self-efficacy are commonly collected using validated survey instruments that require self-reporting. In this paper, we present an observational protocol based on Bandura's four sources of efficacy beliefs that can be used in conjunction with existing surveys to capture qualitative data on how computing self-efficacy beliefs develop. We present the observational protocol as a complementary instrument that can be used alone or in conjunction with validated surveys to capture learners' observable behaviors as they learn new computing knowledge and skills.