The Benefits of Choice on Writing Performance Between Genders

Location

CSU Ballroom

Start Date

20-4-2015 2:00 PM

End Date

20-4-2015 3:30 PM

Student's Major

Psychology

Student's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Mentor's Name

Carlos Panahon

Mentor's Email Address

carlos.panahon@mnsu.edu

Mentor's Department

Psychology

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Second Mentor's Name

Shawna Petersen-Brown

Second Mentor's Email Address

shawna.petersen-brown@mnsu.edu

Second Mentor's Department

Psychology

Second Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Third Mentor's Name

Samantha Steinman

Third Mentor's Deparment

Psychology

Third Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Description

In recent decades, the gap between male and female academic performance has widened in favor of females, specifically within the area of writing performance. This difference between genders has provoked an examination of what may contribute to this difference and an intervention to bridge the gap. Much research has focused on gender gaps and choice intervention separately, but little research has focused on choice interventions that may be particularly beneficial to males in the interest of closing this gap. The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of a choice intervention on writing performance and to compare performance benefits across male and female participants. Participants were male and female students in a public school district, who were randomly assigned to either Choice or No Choice groups. The Choice Group received two writing probes from which to choose while the No Choice Group received only one probe. Each session lasted about 5 minutes and data were collected 2 times per week across 6 weeks. Total words written (TWW) by males and females will be compared in both conditions to investigate any potential gender differences in benefits obtained from the provision of choice. Anticipated outcomes are that the choice writing intervention will lead to increased TWW compared to students who receive no choice. Additionally, female students’ writing performance is expected to increase more than male students. Exploring gender differences is important because male students are at risk of being over-identified with performance deficits in the area of writing.

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Apr 20th, 2:00 PM Apr 20th, 3:30 PM

The Benefits of Choice on Writing Performance Between Genders

CSU Ballroom

In recent decades, the gap between male and female academic performance has widened in favor of females, specifically within the area of writing performance. This difference between genders has provoked an examination of what may contribute to this difference and an intervention to bridge the gap. Much research has focused on gender gaps and choice intervention separately, but little research has focused on choice interventions that may be particularly beneficial to males in the interest of closing this gap. The purpose of this research was to investigate the impact of a choice intervention on writing performance and to compare performance benefits across male and female participants. Participants were male and female students in a public school district, who were randomly assigned to either Choice or No Choice groups. The Choice Group received two writing probes from which to choose while the No Choice Group received only one probe. Each session lasted about 5 minutes and data were collected 2 times per week across 6 weeks. Total words written (TWW) by males and females will be compared in both conditions to investigate any potential gender differences in benefits obtained from the provision of choice. Anticipated outcomes are that the choice writing intervention will lead to increased TWW compared to students who receive no choice. Additionally, female students’ writing performance is expected to increase more than male students. Exploring gender differences is important because male students are at risk of being over-identified with performance deficits in the area of writing.

Recommended Citation

Kadlec, Crystal and Kier Kienholz. "The Benefits of Choice on Writing Performance Between Genders." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 20, 2015.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2015/poster_session_B/39