A descriptive case study examined the gender differences concerning computer
technology (IT) by a convenience sample (N = 180, 76%) of 11 th and 12 th graders at an elite
public high school, recently named the "second best high school in America" (Newsweek,
2000), in suburban Northern Virginia. The purpose of the study was to examine the apparent
discrepancy in male and female differences in computer use, interests, and attitudes.
The research design included a student questionnaire combining the Computer Attitude
Rating Scale (CARS, Heinssen, Glass, & Knight, 1987) and the Attitudes toward Computer
Technology (ACT, Delcourt & Kinzie, 1993) with demographic and academic data (GPA,
PSAT, and SAT I), and the Strong Interest Inventory (Strong, 1994). Chi-square tests of
association for categorical data and t tests for independence of means for metric data were used
to analyze the data, which resulted in several statistically significant relationships (p = < .05)
and meaningful effect sizes (> .70).
The results were higher mean scores for the Strong Realistic General Occupational
Theme (males) and Artistic Theme (females); the Athletic and Mechanical Basic Interest Scales
(males) and Music/Drama, Art, Culinary Arts, and Social Service Scales (females), and Risk-Taking Personal Style Scales (males) and Working Style with People (females). Females also
had higher GPAs, levels of computer anxiety, resistance to technology, and avoidance of
careers and study in computer fields. Females chose Pre-Medicine majors to help others and
males chose Computer Science majors to gain financial rewards.
The implications for practice and research included: female technology internships, 9th grade
mechanical and technical training, computer anxiety group counseling, cooperative learning
and hands on instruction, female-friendly computer and computer science classes, equal access to computers at all grade levels, student-parent information programs concerning the many
opportunities and high paying jobs available in computer technology, female orientated computer games, and more non-linear computer programs and activities that encourage females to "have fun" with computers and not view them as machines. A longitudinal study of the current sample and research at other grade levels and locations were recommended.
