Home PublicationsJRTEPast IssuesVolume 38 Number 1

	Edited by Dr. Lynne Schrum, University of Utah
formerly Journal of Research on Computing in Education

Volume 38 Number 1 Fall 2005

Transition Points for the Gender Gap In Computer Enjoyment

Rhonda Christensen, Gerald Knezek, and Theresa Overall
University of North Texas

Abstract

Data gathered from 10,000 Texas public school students in Grades 3–12 over the years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2005 were analyzed to replicate findings first discovered as a byproduct of evaluation of a large scale U.S. Department of Education Technology Innovation Challenge Grant1. Initial findings were that girls in Grades 4 and 5 reported enjoying computers more than boys. Detailed trend analyses determined that although boys and girls begin first grade with few or no differences in attitudes toward computers (Collis, Knezek, Lai, Miyashita, Pelgrum, Plomp, & Sakamoto, 1996), by Grades 4 and 5, girls are more positive in their enjoyment. Starting about Grade 6, girls’ self-reported perception of computers begins to become less positive than boys, and by Grade 8 becomes significantly lower than boys. Attitudes may become similar again by the end of secondary school. The authors suggest further study is needed to determine if this phenomenon exists in many locations, and if it does, why it takes place.

Download the full article (PDF, 795 KB, PDF instructions)

Contributors

Rhonda Christensen earned a PhD in Information Science with a focus on Computer Education. She is an Associate Director of the Institute for the Integration of Technology into Teaching and Learning and is a Research Scientist at the University of North Texas in Denton. Gerald Knezek earned his PhD at the University of Hawaii in Educational Psychology. He is a professor of Technology & Cognition at the University of North Texas and Director of the Institute for the Integration of Technology into Teaching and Learning. Theresa Overall is a doctoral candidate in Educational Computing at the University of North Texas. The authors have worked together on multiple research projects involving technology integration in education.

Contact

Rhonda Christensen
University of North Texas
Denton, TX 76203
rhonda.christensen@gmail.com

Copyright © 2005, ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education). All rights reserved.