Gender-Based Factors in Computing Enrollments and Achievement: Evidence from a Study of Tertiary Students

1989 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 409-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie A. Clarke ◽  
Susan M. Chambers

Fewer females than males enroll in secondary and tertiary computing courses. This has implications for both the national economy and for the development of women as individuals. Explanations for gender differences in enrollments place varying emphasis on 1) social learning explanations focusing on the importance of experience, encouragement from significant others, the provision of male role models, and the generalization of pre-existing attitudes to mathematics and science, 2) category-based explanations of computer selection and avoidance, 3) beliefs about gender differences in abilities, and 4) gender differences in attributions for success and failure. Using a sample of 222 Australian first year tertiary students enrolled in a compulsory unit of computer studies, data were collected from questionnaires and the university database. Initial gender differences in computing experience and attitudes were found. Women were less likely to intend to pursue further computing studies, although their achievement was comparable to that of men. Achievement related to computing experience and in the case of men, to mathematics experience. Intentions to pursue further computing studies related to attitudes to computing and, in the case of women to mathematics experience and attitudes to statistics. The results are discussed in terms of the different roles of prior experience and attitudes and the implications for changing women's attitudes to computing.

2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 54-67
Author(s):  
Kaukab Abid Azhar ◽  
Nayab Iqbal

The study aims at studying gender differences in the ways male and female students take turns and participate in a mixed-gender classroom. Two groups of first-year English compulsory classes held at two different departments (Geography and Economics) at the University of Karachi took part in the study. The results revealed that in the Geography Department, where there was a female teacher, male students were more dominating as compared to the female students who hardly participated in the class. They took more turns and participated better in the classroom discussion. In addition, they also interrupted the teacher and the female counterparts when they tried to contribute to the discussion. On the other hand, at the Department of Economics, female students had more number of turns. They dominated the classroom as compared to the male students. Besides, the study revealed that the gender of the teacher played an important part in shaping the discourse taking place in the classroom.


Sex Roles ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 13 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 149-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cathleen Stasz ◽  
Richard J. Shavelson ◽  
Clarice Stasz

1995 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-51
Author(s):  
E. L. Donaldson ◽  
E. A. Dixon

Difficulties in retaining women students in undergraduate science courses are well known, but reasons for the attrition are less well understood. Data from a survey of first-year chemistry students suggests that gender differences with regard to pre-entry attributes and the transition to the university, the on- campus experience, perceived competencies in academic skills and science literacy, and undergraduate transitions to work may contribute to decisions to leave science, but not necessarily to leave the university. In one university, short-term intervention strategies such as curricula changes, the addition of female faculty role models, the introduction of promotional activities, and the formation of peer support groups are increasing retention. Follow-up data from Phase Two of this study should provide other indicators, but differences in course selection between young women and men enrolled in university appear to be influenced by their values, thus contributing to differing career choices.


1988 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoe A. Kersteen ◽  
Marcia C. Linn ◽  
Michael Clancy ◽  
Curtis Hardyck

Recent developments in mathematics education indicate that previous experience is the best predictor of high school math achievement scores. Given this information we hypothesized that previous experience with computers would serve as a predictor of performance in college computer science courses. Also of interest was the possible interaction of gender, prior computing experience and computer science course performance. To examine these issues, we designed and administered a questionnaire to students across two semesters of the first year Pascal programming course at the university level. Roughly one-quarter of the students enrolled across the two semesters were female. Results show that males have more prior experience, especially in advanced computer science topics, than females, and that much of this prior experience is gained outside of school through “hacking” and unguided exploration. Amount of prior computing experience was found to predict course performance for males. For females very little prior experience was reported and this limited amount of experience was not predictive of course performance. The question of why women have so little prior experience with computers and are so sparsely represented in computer science courses is addressed.


2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilian Velasco ◽  
Helena Thomas-Currás ◽  
Yolanda Pastor-Ruiz ◽  
Aroa Arcos-Rodríguez

PRO-Mueve Relaciones Sanas (PRO-Mote Healthy Relationships) is a gender-based violence and dating violence prevention program targeted at adolescents. The program has been designed to be implemented during three consecutive courses [from the first to third year of Spanish mandatory secondary education (ESO)] in 8 annual sessions, imparted by university students who have been previously trained and supervised by university professors. The present study evaluates the effects of the program after the first year of implementation through a quasi-experimental design (Intervention Group N = 181; Quasi-control group N = 62; Mage = 12.11; SDage = 0.57; 54.7% girls) and assesses whether there are gender differences in the outcomes. The results obtained evidenced a significant reduction in benevolent sexism in the intervention group compared to the quasi-control group. Regarding hostile sexism, it was found to increase significantly in the quasi-control group, while it remained stable in the intervention group. Thus, there were significant differences between both groups after the intervention. Likewise, romantic love myths were found to decrease significantly, and knowledge about gender-based violence increased significantly in the intervention group between the two time points assessed, although there were no significant differences with the quasi-control group. No gender differences in the outcomes of the program were observed. The obtained results supported the efficacy of the program during the first year of intervention in the first course of the ESO and laid the foundation for the following phases of intervention.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Akhrib ◽  
Fatma Zohra Mebtouche Nedjai

This study aims to investigate gender differences in English as a foreign language (EFL) reading comprehension, situational and perceived interest for gender-oriented passages. It also examines whether any gender variances in situational or perceived interest in those passages cause gender differences in EFL reading comprehension. Throughout this research, clear insights about individual differences and the unexplained variance in foreign language reading are provided. Two main research questions were formulated: (a) Do gender differences in EFL students’ situational interest explain gender differences in EFL students’ reading comprehension? (b) Do gender differences in EFL students’ PI explain gender differences in EFL students’ reading comprehension? In this concern, EFL freshmen students at the University of Algiers 2, including 35 females and 24 males, were conveniently selected. The selected materials were two tests of reading comprehension with male and female texts. Each of these tests was followed by the questionnaires of sources of interest and perceived interest, adapted from Brantmeier (2006). Findings revealed significant gender differences in tests with male and female passages. Besides, significant gender differences found in cohesion, prior knowledge, ease of recollection, and perceived interest for both male and female passages in addition to engagement for the female text did not account for gender differences in reading comprehension of their respective tests. In this way, other factors than situational and perceived interest would explain gender differences in reading comprehension.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 480-497
Author(s):  
Mohammed Akhrib ◽  
Fatma Zohra Mebtouche Nedjai

This study aims to investigate gender differences in English as a foreign language (EFL) reading comprehension, situational and perceived interest for gender-oriented passages. It also examines whether any gender variances in situational or perceived interest in those passages cause gender differences in EFL reading comprehension. Throughout this research, clear insights about individual differences and the unexplained variance in foreign language reading are provided. Two main research questions were formulated: (a) Do gender differences in EFL students’ situational interest explain gender differences in EFL students’ reading comprehension? (b) Do gender differences in EFL students’ PI explain gender differences in EFL students’ reading comprehension? In this concern, EFL freshmen students at the University of Algiers 2, including 35 females and 24 males, were conveniently selected. The selected materials were two tests of reading comprehension with male and female texts. Each of these tests was followed by the questionnaires of sources of interest and perceived interest, adapted from Brantmeier (2006). Findings revealed significant gender differences in tests with male and female passages. Besides, significant gender differences found in cohesion, prior knowledge, ease of recollection, and perceived interest for both male and female passages in addition to engagement for the female text did not account for gender differences in reading comprehension of their respective tests. In this way, other factors than situational and perceived interest would explain gender differences in reading comprehension.


2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sena Crutchley

This article describes how a telepractice pilot project was used as a vehicle to train first-year graduate clinicians in speech-language pathology. To date, six graduate clinicians have been trained in the delivery of telepractice at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Components of telepractice training are described and the benefits and limitations of telepractice as part of clinical practicum are discussed. In addition, aspects of training support personnel involved in telepractice are outlined.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 206-219
Author(s):  
Louay Qais Abdullah ◽  
Duraid Faris Khayoun

The study focused basically on measuring the relationship between the material cost of the students benefits program and the benefits which are earned by it, which was distributed on college students in the initial stages (matinee) and to show the extent of the benefits accruing from the grant program compared to the material burdens which matched and the extent of success or failure of the experience and its effect from o scientific and side on the Iraqi student through these tough economic circumstances experienced by the country in general, and also trying to find ways of proposed increase or expansion of distribution in the future in the event of proven economic feasibility from the program. An data has been taking from the data fro the Department of Financial Affairs and the Department of Studies and Planning at the University of Diyala with taking an data representing an actual and minimized pattern and questionnaires to a sample of students from the Department of Life Sciences in the Faculty of Education of the University of Diyala on the level of success and failure of students in the first year of the grant and the year before for the purpose of distribution comparison. The importance of the study to measure the extent of interest earned in comparision whit the material which is expenseon the program of grant (grant of students) to assist the competent authorities to continue or not in the program of student grants for the coming years.


2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 37-42
Author(s):  
Ken Derry

Although none of the articles in this issue on the topic of religion and humor are explicitly about teaching, in many ways all of them in fact share this central focus. In the examples discussed by the four authors, humor is used to deconstruct the category of religion; to comment on the distance between orthodoxy and praxis; to censure religion; and to enrich traditions in ways that can be quite self-critical. My response to these articles addresses each of the above lessons in specific relation to experiences I have had in, and strategies I have developed for, teaching a first-year introductory religion course at the University of Toronto.


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