Comparing Boys’ and Girls’ Attitudes Toward Computer Science

Women are severely underrepresented in computer science (CS) degrees and careers. While student interest is a key predictor of success, little known about how elementary students from underserved groups, such as girls, develop their CS. To address this issue, we examined the differences attitudes between upper girls boys towards CS after participating yearlong, inquiry-based curriculum designed for diverse learners. Pre-and-post surveys on students’ (n = 108) were delivered before participation curriculum. Results survey showed only two demonstrated significant favoring talking more with friends family believing that scientists make difference world. Even these items, marginal significance would not survive correction multiple comparisons. Follow-up, semi-structured interviews 18 painted different picture. Girls displayed decreased compared to regard self-efficacy overall identification discipline. These highlight importance early intervention programs leveraging strengths interests girls. Based our findings, provide recommendations educators designers better engaging