On-Line "Chat Room" Tutorials--An Unusual Gender Bias in Computer Use

Abstract

Research into gender bias in attitudes, access, and effectiveness associated with computers has produced conflicting results, resulting in conflicting opinions as to whether a technological gender gap favoring male students exists. No previous study, however, has ever demonstrated a preference for female use of a particular computer application. This work describes gender differences in the use of on-line (“chat room”) tutorials by non-traditional chemistry students enrolled in distance learning sections of a general chemistry course. Higher percentages of female students participated in the on-line tutorials and they participated with greater frequency than male students. Furthermore, the correlation between frequency of participation and course performance was higher among the female students. Various explanations for this unusual gender bias are offered, and the conclusion that the diversity of computer applications available today requires that research into gender bias refrain from viewing the computer as a single entity is supported.