Are College Women Less Engaged in Computer Science Classrooms Than Men? Results of a Smartphone Experience Sampling Method Study

• In Event: 75.033 - Factors Affecting Diverse Students in STEM

Abstract

Over the past decade, interest in student engagement and its connection to gender disparities in STEM degrees has grown dramatically. This paper presents findings from a study of student engagement in computer science using the experience sampling method (ESM), a real-time method that surveys participants’ cognition, affect, and behaviors throughout the day. Using a new cell-phone based ESM application, this study analyzes over 6,500 observations nested within 146 computer science/engineering students at two research universities. Preliminary analysis of ESM data shows male students are more engaged with computer science than female students inside and outside the college classroom. Early results from hierarchical models also show that engagement is higher in academic activities related to computer science than in other classes.

Authors

• Carolina Milesi, NORC at the University of Chicago

• Barbara Schneider, Michigan State University

• Kevin L. Brown, NORC at the University of Chicago

• Lara Perez-Felkner, Florida State University

• Iliya Gutin, NORC at the University of Chicago

• Eric Dropkin, NORC at the University of Chicago