I LIKE Computers versus I LIKERT Computers: Rethinking Methods for Assessing the Gender Gap in Computing.

There is a burgeoning body of research on gender differences in computing attitudes and behaviors. After a decade of experience, researchers from both inside and outside the field of educational computing research are raising methodological and conceptual issues which suggest that perhaps researchers have shortchanged girls and women in documenting the computer gender gap. A need is identified for more research on computing activities which are not related to mathematics or programming and which look at what women and girls do like about computers. A multi-week observational study of gender-sensitive computer attitudes in a gender-sensitive context was conducted in a suburban high school in Massachusetts during the spring of 1990, using the Personal Media Studio, Macintosh HyperCard-based multimedia writing software. This study involved 42 adolescents (25 females, 17 males), in two low-middle ability sophomore English classes. Ranging in age from 14-17, the students were racially and ethnically diverse. The results showed that females expressed positive, enthusiastic, and confident feelings about computers, and it was concluded that Likert scale computer attitude surveys are an example of the mismeasure of women. This report reviews the literature on gender differences in computing attitudes and behaviors and examines the research results in terms of: (1) methodological issues; (2) measurement instrument formats; (3) controversies regarding attitude research; (4) feminist challenges; (5) underlying assumptions about the computer; and (6) insufficient contextual details. Seven tables display the data and an extensive bibliography is provided. (ALF) *********************************************************************** Aeproduetions supplied by LinsS are une best that can be made * from the original document. *********************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT Of EDUCATION °time 01 EducatIonal Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (EFUCI This document h35 been reproduced as received from the person or organtzatton Originating it CI Mrrtor changes have been made to to-Incase reproduction clualitY Points Of view or opinions slated in InISCIOcu 'rent CIO not necessarily represent Official OERI posluon Of policy I LIKE Computers Versus I LIKERT Computers: Rethinking Methods for Assessing the Gender Gap in Computing Frances K. Morse and Colette Daiute Harvard Graduate School of Education Paper Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association San Francisco, April 1992 Funding for this research was provided in part by Harvard University and Apple Computer. The authors thank the teachers and students who participated in this project. We also thank Arthur Johnson and Mark McCaig for their help on various aspects of the project. Frances K. Morse is an Ed.D. candidate in Human Development and Psychology at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. Colette Daiute is Associate Professor in Human Development and Psychology at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.