Method

A Web-based questionnaire was used to collect data. To reach as many women in IT as possible, the questionnaire was presented to the IT industry through an article in ITWeb, an important IT news site for Southern Africa. Women completing the questionnaire were also requested to forward the URL to female colleagues. To encourage participation, anonymity was guaranteed. After submission, respondents had the option to provide an e-mail address for further contact, which was stored independently of the questionnaire details. Although the questionnaire was comprehensive in its coverage, questions were designed to be quick and easy to complete. It took on average 10 minutes to complete and was available for a three-week period from late November until mid-December 2001.