Relationship between gender identity, perceived social support for using computers, and computer self-efficacy and value beliefs of undergraduate students

Abstract

This study investigated relationship between gender identity, social support for using computers and computer self-efficacy and value beliefs. Data was collected from first year undergraduate students at a university near Bangkok (72.3 % females, mean ageź=ź18.52 years). The respondents in our survey did not intend to major in computer sciences. Results show parental and peer support for using computers were positively associated with computer self-efficacy and value beliefs for both males and females. Gender typicality was positively associated with the level of computer self-efficacy for males and personal endorsement of gender-stereotypes was negatively associated with the level of computer self-efficacy for females. Students who responded "yes" to whether they would pursue employment in a job that may require them to work with computers reported significantly higher computer self-efficacy and value for using computers than students who responded "no" or "undecided". Gender role socialization and expectancy-value theories are used to interpret group differences in computer self-efficacy and value beliefs.