How Is The Collaborative Nature Of A Group Affected By Gender?

Abstract

Previous research suggests that male and female students divide their time in physics lab differently. This study finds that gender affected not just the hands-on division of labor in lab, but also the cognitive division of labor. We analyzed video of lab group's interactions, finding gendered differences in how students distanced themselves by hedging or questioning (Conlin & Scherr, 2018). Male students tended to provide suggestions first and be confident in their initial ideas (less distancing). Female students tended to question initial ideas and think more critically before beginning experiment (more distancing). Understanding how gender plays a role in collaboration can allow group dynamics to be improved in a way that takes this into account.