Gender Dependency and Cultural Independency of Science Interest in an Open and Distant Science Learning Environment

dc.creator	Ayelet Baram-Tsabari, Alaa Kaadni Kaadni
dc.date	2009-04-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.accessioned	2015-07-20T22:15:55Z
dc.date.available	2015-07-20T22:15:55Z
dc.identifier	1492-3831
dc.identifier	https://doaj.org/article/c940528833594ed1ae5bff25214723b2
dc.identifier.uri	http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/18022
dc.description	This study aims to describe the similarities and differences in the science interests of males and females from Israeli and Arab Middle Eastern countries, as derived from over 1,000 science questions sent to an international ask-a-scientist site. Our findings indicate that while the stereotypical gender gap in interest persists, and significant differences were found between the age groups, no significant differences were found between science questions that were sent by Israelis and Arabs. Furthermore, no correlation was found between female participation and the state of gender equity in the country, and only 1% of the questions made any reference to country-specific, local, or religious aspects. One may conclude that science interests are gender- and age-dependent but culturally-independent in this asynchronous, open and distant science learning environment. Further research is needed in order to determine if this is a genuine attribute of science interest in ODL environments or an outcome of the digital divide in the region.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	Athabasca University
dc.relation	http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/591/1213
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/1492-3831
dc.rights	CC BY
dc.source	International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, Vol 10, Iss 2 (2009)
dc.subject	gender
dc.subject	cross-cultural
dc.subject	informal science education
dc.subject	questions
dc.subject	ask-a-scientist
dc.subject	Middle East
dc.subject	Special aspects of education
dc.subject	LC8-6691
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Special aspects of education
dc.subject	LC8-6691
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Special aspects of education
dc.subject	LC8-6691
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Special aspects of education
dc.subject	LC8-6691
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Special aspects of education
dc.subject	LC8-6691
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.title	Gender Dependency and Cultural Independency of Science Interest in an Open and Distant Science Learning Environment
dc.type	article