1. Introductory Programming Bridging the Gender Gap?

2. 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

3. 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?

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Programming Comfort According to Personal Music Device Use

11. 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!

12. Getting Help from Peers Percentage of Students Who Have Gotten Help from Peers Percentage of Males Consulted

13. 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!

14. Giving Help to Peers Percentage of Students Who Have Given Help to Peers Percentage of Males Helped

15. 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

16. 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