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The effects of computers and calculators on male and female statistics achievement

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Abstract

THIS STUDY COMPARED the effects of microcomputer-based software and hand-held calculators on the statistics achievement of university males and females. The subjects, 50 graduate students enrolled in univariate statistics classes at a public, comprehensive university, were randomly assigned to groups that used either microcomputer-based software or hand-held calculators in performing their statistical calculations. The effects of the independent variables of microcomputer-based software and hand-held calculators on the dependent variable of statistics achievement were analyzed with an independent t-test and a two-way analysis of variance. Results of the independent t-test and a two-way analysis of variance. Results of the independent t-test revealed no significant difference between the achievement of students who used hand-held calculators and those who used microcomputer-based software (p=.556). Furthermore, the two-way analysis of variance revealed no significant difference on the basis of gender (p=.993); however, a significant interaction effect (p=.013) was disclosed. The effect size of 0.912 indicates that, on the average, those males who used microcomputers outperformed 82% of the females who used microcomputers in performing their statistical calculations; while the females who used calculators outperformed 71% of the male users of calculators, on the basis of an effect size calculation of 0.545.

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Correspondence to Edwin P. Christmann.

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Edwin P. Christmann is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Secondary Education/Foundations of Education at Slippery Rock University, where he teaches graduate-level courses in science education, statistics, and educational technology.

Dr. Christmann has published several articles that explore the effect of technology on learning and is a frequent speaker at international, national, and regional education and educational technology conferences.

John L. Badgett is a Professor in the Department of Secondary Education/Foundations of Education at Slippery Rock University, where he teaches graduate courses in quantitative research, qualitative research, and social foundations of education, as well as an undergraduate course in measurement and evaluation.

Dr. Badgett has published on the relationship between intelligence scores and personality variables, and on the effect of different instructional methodologies on student learning.

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Christmann, E.P., Badgett, J.L. The effects of computers and calculators on male and female statistics achievement. J. Comput. High. Educ. 9, 49–58 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02948777

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