Computer vs. paper

Computer vs. paper

Part 1

1. Gather 14 volunteers

• 7 female and 7 male
• Choose one class and request volunteers for a science experiment (do not reveal details of experiment)
• Put names of possible subjects into two containers (one for males and one for females)
• Choose 7 from each container and record names of subjects
• Direct a time that the subject(s) can meet for a time slot of one hour

Part 2

2. Give passage 1 (computer) to subject and direct him or her to read it within the ten minute time slot.

3. Give corresponding multiple choice quiz for subject to complete.

4. Record the number and percentage of correct answers.

5. Give passage 2 (paper) to subject and direct him or her to read it within the ten minute time slot.

6. Give corresponding multiple choice quiz for subject to complete.

7. Record the number and percentage of correct answers.

8. Repeat steps 2 to 7 with the remaining volunteers.

Intro

Materials

• technology becoming more prevalent
• one-to-one program
• will/ should technology replace paper?

Hypothesis

PURPOSE

• if one reads a given text from paper, then one will receive a higher score on the multiple choice quiz

• 2 different reading passages with corresponding questions (both at grade 10 level; computer and paper)

• laptop/ computer

• writing utensil

• stopwatch set at 10 minutes

• to determine how the medium used when conducting the test influences reading comprehension scores

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VS.

Bibliography

Procedure

"The Science of Paper versus Screens - Scientific American." 2014. 26 Apr. 2015 <http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/reading-paper-screens/"Digital Vs. Paper: Research on Handwriting and Computer ..." 2013. 26 Apr. 2015 <http://thebuildnetwork.com/leadership/domtar-paper-digital-vs-paper/>

"The Economist explains: Why girls do better at school than ..." 2015. 26 Apr. 2015 <http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2015/03/economist-explains-3>

"Oxford's Director of Mansplaining: Girls Are Too Risk-Averse ..." 2013. 26 Apr. 2015 <http://jezebel.com/oxford-s-director-of-mansplaining-girls-are-too-risk-a-1162454859>

"Differences in Math, Science, and Reading - Sitemaker." 2005. 26 Apr. 2015 <http://sitemaker.umich.edu/356.ling/differences_in_math__science__and_reading>

Mean female paper score: about 3.857

Mean female computer score: about 2.847

Mean male paper score: about 3.714

Mean male computer: about 3.857

Analysis

Data and results

Figure 1

Figure 2

overall paper mean: about 3.786

overall computer mean: about 3.357

(3.786 - 3.357)/ 3.786 = 0.113

0.113 x 100 = 11.3 %

Figure 3

overall female mean: about 3.357

overall male mean: about 3.786

(3.786 - 3.357)/ 3.786 = 0.113

0.113 x 100 = 11.3 % difference

• males scored higher on the computer
• females scored higher on paper
• overall, male scores were higher (11.3% difference)

• error: Subject 12 admitted to guessing answers

Figure 4

Figure 6

Figure 5

Conclusion

Results

Improvements

sample size and number of questions increase

• accuracy
• significant difference

type of question and topics varied

• females better with creative
• males better with logical and multiple choice

medium of testing

• affects scores?

Hypothesis supported

• overall score (paper: 3.786 > computer: 3.357)

Hypothesis not supported

• males scored separately (computer > paper)
• comfortability on electronic devices

Males score higher overall

• gender bias in multiple choice quizzes

Application

• technological devices can be both useful and detrimental
• gap between scores is not significant enough to discard a medium
• one-to-one program can be useful for males, but paper should be used for females

by: Shannon Chin