Gender differences in the Form IV Junior Lyceum computer studies examination (June 2005)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate gender difference in performance in computer studies. The whole population (N = 463) of pupils attending Form IV Junior Lyceum State schools and who took computer studies as an option study unit participated in this study. A sample of 438 scripts (boys= 230, girls= 208) was used in the item analysis to provide insights on the way pupils reacted to the test paper items. Results showed that girls outperformed boys in the coursework and in the Junior Lyceum examination. An analyses of gender differences in specific items revealed that girls performed significantly better than boys in the recall, understanding, application and relatively easy problem solving items, while boys performed significantly better in a complex programming problem solving item. The implications for teaching in the light of the present findings are discussed.