Indications of Personality Trait Difference between ICT and Other Students

The paper reports on a survey undertaken amongst first year students who were taking introductory courses in departments within Schools of IT at two South African universities. The purpose of the survey was to understand factors influencing career choice and how educationalists could use this to encourage enrollment in computer-related degree programmes. This paper considers association of values with chosen careers, other career outcomes that students consider important and their perceptions regarding personal characteristics of ICT students. The responses of students who intend taking computer-related courses up to third year and those who are taking other majors are compared. Gender is also considered. Significant differences were discovered and are associated with a variety of different theories that are broadly related to personal characteristics and personality (Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Five Factors Model). An INTJ profile for males and an INFJ profile for female students intending to major in computer-related courses seem to emerge. Low Power Distance, low Uncertainty Avoidance, and high Masculinity are tentatively proposed as cultural dimensions of the ICT career culture.