Comfort and experience with computing: Are they the same for women and men?

Abstract

What produces comfort with computers and how is comfort related to computer achievement for men and women? This study looks at the effects of comfort and prior spreadsheet knowledge on the ability to design spreadsheets by management science students. Results showed that comfort with computing is significantly correlated with test performance for women; for men, mathematics ability and relevance to their future career are more important. The study suggests that the quality of women's initial computing instruction is very important in affecting what they will accomplish in the future. © 1991, ACM. All rights reserved.