GENDER, GROUP COMPOSITION, COOPERATION, AND SELF-EFFICACY IN COMPUTERSTUDIES

This study aimed to investigate whether gender, group composition, or self-efficacy in computing has any impact on cooperation, giving or ge tting task-related help, and level of activity in student groups. The groups were established during a computer course among 150 college stu dents in business administration. According to our results, students w ith low self-efficacy in computing, and students in groups with a majo rity of females, cooperated more than any other categories in their wo rk with computers. Furthermore, students with high self-efficacy in co mputing, and students with a high degree of previous computer experien ce, offered more task-related help to other students than did the rest . In terms of gender, the level of activity was evaluated as highest i n majority-female or majority-male groups. Moreover, female students h ad significantly lower self-efficacy in computing, less previous compu ter experience, and they had received less previous encouragement to w ork with computers. Finally, female students were receiving more task- related help, while at the same time giving less task-related help tha n male students.