Exploring the Impact of Belonging on Computer Science Enrollment Using Virtual Reality

This study was designed to examine the impact of familial back-ground and personal connection on a student’s decision to take Computer Science (CS) courses in university. We utilized virtual reality to allow participants to embody an avatar with or without a family background in CS. This study can help determine participants’ willingness to enroll an avatar in a CS course despite a lack of personal experience. The decisions made by the participants provides insight into the relevance of family background on CS enrollment according to the participants. The results of this study were largely inconclusive but the feedback provided important information to be applied for future research in the same area of interest.