dc.contributor.author	Anderson, Marilyn Joan Whinnerah	en
dc.contributor.committeecochair	Belli, Gabriella M.	en
dc.contributor.committeecochair	Madison-Colmore, Octavia D.	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Stith, Sandra M.	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Paritzky, Richard S.	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Hoffman, Libby R.	en
dc.contributor.department	Educational Leadership and Policy Studies	en
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-14T20:14:08Z	en
dc.date.adate	2000-07-25	en
dc.date.available	2014-03-14T20:14:08Z	en
dc.date.issued	2000-06-01	en
dc.date.rdate	2001-07-25	en
dc.date.sdate	2000-07-20	en
dc.description.abstract	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.	en
dc.description.degree	Ph. D.	en
dc.identifier.other	etd-07202000-17500018	en
dc.identifier.sourceurl	http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-07202000-17500018/	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10919/28338	en
dc.publisher	Virginia Tech	en
dc.relation.haspart	references.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	MJWAfront.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	abstract.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	MJWAbody.pdf	en
dc.relation.haspart	MJWAback.pdf	en
dc.rights	In Copyright	en
dc.rights.uri	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/	en
dc.subject	Counseling	en
dc.subject	Gender	en
dc.subject	Strong Interest Inventory	en
dc.subject	International Baccalaureate	en
dc.subject	Computer Anxiety	en
dc.title	Gender Differences in Computer Attitudes, Interests, and Usage in an Elite High School	en
dc.type	Dissertation	en
thesis.degree.discipline	Educational Leadership and Policy Studies	en
thesis.degree.grantor	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	en
thesis.degree.level	doctoral	en
thesis.degree.name	Ph. D.	en

Gender Differences in Computer Attitudes, Interests, and Usage in an Elite High School

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