A survey of 62 business-communication students compared the attitudes of men and women about (1) the value of technology in making users more productive; (2) the impact of computers on people and their work environment; and (3) the relative comfort of men and women when using computers. Results indicated that women were more positive on all three…

Reviews findings of differences in how boys and girls approach technology, the possible causes, and steps to be taken to shift the balance. Suggests early exposure, parental role models, and praise and encouragement. (Author/JOW)

Study conducted in 1985 involved a sample of male and female teachers in Quebec, Canada. The study provides insight into the use of microcomputers in Quebec schools. Study underscored inequalities in the distribution of computers based on school size, town population, and administrative region. (RB)

Comparison of scores on the Computer Aptitude, Literacy, and Interest Profile of 56 junior high school learning disabled students and 56 non-learning disabled peers found no significant difference in scores between the two groups nor between male and female students. (Author/DB)

Discussion of computerism (i.e., blind faith in the inherent good of computers) focuses on seven myths about computer anxiety, including the relationship between computer use and math skills; fear of breaking computers; the need for keyboarding skills; and gender differences. An annotated bibliography of 21 sources of further information is…

Western Australia eleventh graders (142 boys, 139 girls) were compared on such variables as computers at home, computer classes, experience with computers, and socioeconomic status. Girls had higher anxiety levels, boys higher computer interest. Possible causes included social beliefs about computer use, teacher sex bias, and software (games) more…

Responses from Canadian personnel managers (265 women, 148 men) indicated that women spent more time using computers; both men and women used information technologies (fax, voice mail, modem, scanner, copiers, etc.) extensively; and women used computers more often than men for word-processing tasks. (SK)

Discussion of computer usage and familiarity focuses on an empirical study of college students that investigated the relationship between computer familiarity and cognitive ability. Results are reported that indicate a positive correlation between high scores on cognitive ability tests and computer usage, but no gender differences are reported.…

Review of the research literature indicates that sex differences favor males in overall computer use, course enrollments, programing and games but few sex differences in computer applications. Explanations focus on sex-based differences in expected outcomes arising from cultural beliefs. Eight strategies for increasing female participation are…

Investigates the effects of mathematics anxiety and sex on attitudes related to achievement in computer literacy: computer anxiety, computer confidence, and computer liking. Over 350 students in junior high, secondary, and college classes were involved. (MNS)

Investigated sex differences in computer attitude and aptitude and the relationship of these variables, math aptitude, math anxiety, and scholastic achievement to computer involvement among college freshmen (N=941). Sex differences were found in attitudes, computer aptitude, and math prerequisites. Computer aptitude related to math ability and…

Examines the structure of undergraduate computing at a large private university, including patterns of use, impact of computer ownership and gender, and the bureaucratic structure in which usage is embedded. The profile of computer use uncovered in a survey is compared with reports offered by the institution and the trade press. (10 references)…

Discussion of measuring computer-related attitudes of students focuses on the development of a new measure of attitudes toward computers for use with undergraduate students that operationalizes the affective attitudinal domain independently of the behavioral or cognitive intentions. Reliability and validity are addressed, and gender differences…

Discusses women's use of computers and considers how the principles of feminism affect computerization. Highlights include the computerization process; gender differences in learning; models for feminist use of computers, including information processing and telecommunications; and a resource list of women's organizations that use computers.…

Discusses the organization and teaching of computing in British secondary schools. Assesses the extent and nature of gender differences in participation in computing activities and teachers' attitudes toward girls and computing. Includes recommendations for action by schools. (Author/JDH)