Introductory Programming

Bridging the Gender Gap?

Background Wilder, Mackie, and Cooper on Princeton

students: Gender differences remain even in selective groups

Self-fulfilling prophecy: Turns stereotype into reality

Cooper: Females ask males for help in male-oriented subjects

Background cont. The effect of previous

computer experience: Reduces gender differences

Duke University study: iPods improve academic work and make students more engaged in class.

What about the effect of iPods on computer comfort?

Problem Discovering if the self-fulfilling prophecy is at

work in introductory computer programming classes at Princeton

Finding gender differences in giving and receiving help in these classes

Finding if the use of mp3 players lessens the gender differences in these classes

Hypotheses Females seek more help overall than males Females and males are more likely to ask male

peers for help than female peers Males and females are more likely to help female

peers than male peers Males and Females who own mp3 players are more

comfortable with computers than those who do not The gender difference is smaller between males and

females who own mp3 players than those who do not

Method/Survey Survey given to 50 beginning programming students

COS 126, ORF 201 31 males, 19 females 16 questions, approx. 2 minutes

Questions On a scale of 1 to 5:

How comfortable do you feel with programming and with computing in general?

How often did you go to a preceptor for help (besides precept time)?

Do you get help from and/or give help to peers? yes or no if so, name two peers in each category

Do you have (and use) a “personal music device”? iPod MP3 player

Variables/Trends BSE students– more males than females Some didn’t go to class Prior knowledge an issue? Small “stereotype threat” Same names listed for “giving” and

“receiving” help

Computing Comfort Small margins, but males

more comfortable “Computing” wasn’t

defined All college students have

to use computers! No big differences with

PMD’s Hypothesis qualified,

although difference small Measure of PMD

influence difficult

3

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4

Males Females

Programming Comfort Males more comfortable

than females Turkle and Papert study–

programming style geared toward males, not females

Smaller gender “gap” in those with PMD’s than those without Use of iPods and MP3

players as technological tools?

Hypothesis supported

2.6

2.8

3

3.2

3.4

3.6

Males Females

Programming Comfort According to Personal Music Device Use

2.6

2.8

3

3.2

3.4

Males (use) Females (use) Males (don't use) Females (don't use)

Help From Preceptors (beyond precept)

females > males No way of knowing how much

help they actually got– just their subjective impressions

Males need to reinforce masculine “good with computers” image

Females not necessarily adhering to “weak” stereotype– may be less shy in asking preceptors for help, since they don’t have the stereotype threat to overcome

Works to the advantage of females

Hypothesis supported!

0

1

2

3

4

Males Females

Getting Help from Peers

40

50

60

70

80

90

Males Females40

50

60

70

80

90

Males Females

Percentage of StudentsWho Have Gotten Help from Peers Percentage of Males Consulted

Getting Help From Peers Both genders received help from their peers, males

more Males may work in groups more than females Females “substituted” peers for preceptors Hypothesis qualified– there is a “substitution” effect with

regard to who seeks more help Both received more help from males

Perception of males as being more capable? More males in the class=greater probability Males were more comfortable in asking other males than

females were Maybe males don’t want to be helped by females in a “male

domain” Hypothesis supported!

Giving Help to Peers

40

50

60

70

80

90

Males Females

40

50

60

70

80

90

Males Females

Percentage of StudentsWho Have Given Help to Peers Percentage of Males Helped

Giving Help to Peers More males than females indicated a willingness to help

“Responsibility” to help others, and perceived to be more comfortable in this “male” domain

Hypothesis supported

Males would be willing or have helped more males They work in groups together Recognition that females go to preceptors instead Hypothesis qualified– effect of the preceptors

Females would be willing or have helped more females Afraid of being rebuffed by males? Recognition of persistence of gender stereotype

They know males may not feel “right” about being helped by a girl Hypothesis supported

Further Study Potential for preceptors and PMD’s as being

able to “bridge” gender differences in computing– human-human interaction and increased human-machine interaction

Larger sample sizes Controlling for the stereotype threat