Cross-Cultural Comparison of Gender Differences in Adolescents’ Attitudes Toward Computers and Selected School Subjects

The attitudes of two samples of adolescents from Victoria, British Columbia, and Shanghai, People’s Republic of China, toward computer studies and selected school subjects were surveyed and compared to support the validity and reliability of attitude research in a cross-cultural context.

Abstract

AbstractThe attitudes of two samples of adolescents (total N = 2,105) from Victoria, British Columbia, and Shanghai, People's Republic of China, toward computer studies and selected school subjects were surveyed and compared. The Chinese students were significantly more positive in their attitudes toward computers, science, and writing than were the British Columbia students. In addition, the students from Shanghai displayed fewer sex or age differences among themselves, except when asked to give opinions about the competence of females with regard to computer use and science. Both samples of females agreed that women have as much ability as men in these areas, whereas males in both countries were significantly more skeptical. The study also supports the validity and reliability of attitude research in a cross-cultural context.