Literature Review

The Interaction of the Variable of Gender on Learning with Technology

Indiana University

Fallon Stillman

Overview of Topic

Studies concerning the interaction of gender role between the effectiveness of technology integration in education have produced mixed results.

Some findings report that gender does not effect the learning outcomes or student satisfaction with electronic medium interventions.

Some report gender can affect differences between male and female performance and satisfaction with electronic medium interventions .

What is the current interaction of the variable gender in and the effectiveness of technology-based learning interventions?

Key Terms

Gender role – culturally dependent behavior

patterns defined by masculinity or femininity

Gender gap – differences between male and female views, performance, and attitudes

Self-efficacy – Bandura defines as people’s self-

perceived capabilities that can affect

achievement

Stereo-type threat – Gender roles may cause people to act accordingly to their social

expectations.

Theoretical Foundation

Gender Role Theory: Gender roles are

determined by society’s labor divisions (Wood &

Eagly, 2002)

Stereotype Threat: The numerical minority will

face debilitating lowered performance

expectations. (Steele, 1997)

Current & Past Research

Trends Measurement tools for researching gender

differences in educational technology (Popovitch, 1987; Teo, 2011)

Influence of gender roles on technological self efficacy in higher education (Kay, 2006; Huffman, Whetten & Huffman, 2013; Liu & Chang 2010 )

Influence of gender on effectiveness and attitudes with instructional technology in secondary school students (Levin & Gordon, 1989; Kaino, 2008; Ertle & Helling,2011)

Influence of gender roles on technological self efficacy, and percieved usefulness of the media in professional learners (Ong & Lai, 2006)

Areas for Future Research

New comparison between technological self-efficacy between Generation X and Generations Y and Z

Correlations between cognitive style and gender as a variable in the effectiveness of learning with technology

Effect of topic/subject matter and gender as variables in the effectiveness of learning with technology

Culture as a variable in gender differences in educational technology acceptance and effectiveness

References Bandura, A. (1991a). Self-efficacy mechanism in physiological activation and health-promoting behavior. In J.

Madden, IV (Ed.), Neurobiology of learning, emotion and affect (pp. 229- 270). New York: Raven

Ertl, B., & Helling, K. (2011). Promoting Gender Equality in Digital Literacy. Journal Of Educational Computing Research, 45(4), 477-503.

Gender role. 2014. In Psychology Dictionary. Retrieved Decmeber 4, 2014, from hhttp://psychologydictionary.org/gender-role/

Huffman, A.H., Whetten, J., & Huffman, W.H. (2013). Using technology in higher education: The influence of gender roles on technology self-efficacy, Computers in Human Behavior, 29(4),1779-1786.

Kaino, L. M. (2008). Technology in learning: Narrowing the gender gap? Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 4(3), 263-268.

Kay, R. (2006). Addressing Gender Differences in Computer Ability, Attitudes and Use: The Laptop Effect. Journal Of Educational Computing Research, 34(2), 187-211.

Levin, T. and Gordon, C. (1989). Effect of gender and computer experience on attitudes toward computers. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 5(1):69-8.

Liu, E., & Chang, Y. (2010). Gender differences in usage, satisfaction, self-efficacy and performance of blogging. British Journal Of Educational Technology, 41(3).

References continued Ong, C. S., Lai, J.Y., (2006). Gender differences in perceptions and relationships among

dominants of e-learning acceptance, Computers in Human Behavior, 22 (5), 816-829.

Pohnl, S., & Bogner, F. X. (2012). Learning with Computer-Based Multimedia: Gender Effects on Efficiency. Journal Of Educational Computing Research, 47(4), 387-407.

Popovich, P.M. and Others (1987). The development of the attitudes toward computer usage scale. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 47(1) :261-269, Spring/87.

Steele, C. M. (1997). A Threat in the Air: How Stereotypes Shape Intellectual Identity and Performance. American Psychologist, 52(6), 613-29.

Teo, T. (2011). Measuring Gender Differences in Technology Acceptance: A Measurement Invariance Analysis. International Journal Of Instructional Media, 38(3), 245-252.

Wood, W. & Eagly, A. (2012). Biosocial Construction of Sex Differences and Similarities in Behavior Advances. Experimental Social Psychology, 46. Elsevier Inc. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-394281-4.00002-7.