I have been continuing to read and summarize reports. I have also been continuing my efforts with BiTWiSE as well as interviewing people on my topic to find out as much as I can. I have also continued to reach out to folks. Today I sent a note to Dr. Reagan Flowers. She lives in Houston so we will have a conference call soon. I am also meeting with a representative from Microsoft to discuss possibly studying The Student Minority Program that is done by Blacks @ Microsoft to see if there is an association between students participating in the program and increased interest in computing careers.

So far this week I have completed reading The Digital Elite by John T. Barber and I have begun to summarize what I will use for chapter 2. I also started reading my book on Grounded Theory which I think is the design I wish to use, but I wanted to read more about it before I committed. But is is based on Comparative Analysis which I think is important for what I wish to do. I also reached out to someone at The Blacks @ Microsoft Employee Resource Group about the possibility of studying their program called Student Minority Day as my study. I should finish the book on Thursday and then I can get to the remaining sources I have yet to read and my discovery on AERA.net for anything new. I should complete this by the end of the week. The hope is to start to put together the chapter and send it to Margaret before the end of the month.

Today I finished reading The Black Digital Elite by John T. Barber. This is an excellent book and will fit in well with my chapter 2. It is a profile of African Americans who have played a role in the evolution of the computing industry from different sectors of the society. Each profile reveals the thoughts of these "digital elite" on what needs to be done to close the technology gap in America. This week I also reached out to Detra Newhouse of Blacks @ Microsoft to discuss the feasibility of studying their Student Minority Day Initiative for my study.

I got back in the library today. I still have articles to summarize, but I wanted to use a book I have called The Black Digital Elite. I spent a few hours today in the library and I should finish it on Wednesday. I am glad that I did because I definitely found some good stuff. I will summarize it on Wednesday. I still did not get my chapter 2 written this week. But I want to have certain sources summarized before I start to synthesize and integrate.

talk to students who have come through the bdpa program who have majored in stem. What effect did it have (ask margaret)

how does events such as career days influence the choice of career.
keep my eyes and ears open during my talk in Waco.

saw this:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2007PhDT.......130W

http://gradworks.umi.com/3341359.pdf, found on google need to do a google scholar search + pro quest can still be building even though I submit to Margaret.

The study that looked at robotics used a tool to measure before and after.

1. Continue conversations and interviews (may get an idea of what to ask or design)
2. Continue summarizing what I have (for chapter 2 construction)
3. AERA (for chapter 2 construction)
4. Other dissertations for ideas for my chapter 3 (further research)
5. BiTWiSE (ideas for design, participant source)

Today I spent a few hours in the library reading and summarizing proposals. I did not get as much done in terms of how many or how much I wrote but my understanding of the problem and what I am doing is growing immensely. I read one article that was full of information and gave me several ideas.

I also finally summarized the Dividing Lines article which also had an interesting nugget or 2. My goal is to complete 10 more summaries before attempting the construction of my first draft. My goal was to get the draft to Margaret today. I spoke with her today and told her that I would get her a draft next Wednesday.

That is seven days from now and I fully intend to do that. She also made it clear to me today that I don't actually have a research design yet, although I keep thinking that I do. I guess I do unless something better comes along. My plan is to interview black technology professionals and ask them about their experiences being an information technology professional and let the themes emerge as to why so few black males pursue careers in information technology.


She was also very encouraging regarding my BiTWiSE activities. Which was very reassuring because I struggled with taking the time on the project as I was worried about it taking away from my dissertation. She convinced me that they are one and the same. She even said that I may find a way to use BiTWiSE as part of my study.

She reminded that I should look for other dissertations and check their chapter 5's for ideas for study designs. I had been doing that but I will do more more of it. She also mentioned that I could interview the IT professionals to get their take and use that information to create a survey to interview college students.

To see if what is perceived by the professionals holds water with the aspirants. I need to continue to write and keep my eyes and ears open for the idea that really clicks for me.