Gender Gap: Direct and Indirect Relationships Between Information and Communication Technology Psychological Needs, Interest, and Science Achievement

• In Event: 34.066 - Outside-the-Box Insights on Technologies + Pedagogies

Abstract

The current study explores the direct, indirect and total relationships between students’ interest and psychological needs on information and communication technology (ICT) and science achievement, after taking into account ICT availability, social economic status (SES) and science self-efficacy; and whether those relationships vary by genders. By conducting path analysis, the study results indicate no matter for female students or male students, ICT interest and ICT autonomy have positive relationship with their science achievement. On the contrary, ICT social-relatedness and competency has negative and no relationship with science achievement, respectively. Also, relationship between ICT access and science achievement vary across genders. Suggestions were made to develop students’ ICT interest and autonomy, especially for female students.

Authors

• Siqi Li, University at Buffalo - SUNY

• Yang Yang, Qingdao University