Collaborative learning eliminates the negative impact of gender stereotypes on women's self-concept

Abstract

Cultural stereotypes about women's "fit" and ability in technical fields are alive and well. Such cultural beliefs can make their way into women's psyches, and when this happens women's self-conceptions in computing suffer, namely, self-efficacy, sense of belonging, and identification with computing. The current research examines whether collaborative learning methods in the form of study support programs can cancel out the negative relationship between women's endorsement of negative gender stereotypes and their self-conceptions. Longitudinal survey data indicated that participation in collaborative learning activities sever the negative relationship between women's endorsement of gender stereotypes and their professional self-conceptions.