Gender differences in the new interdisciplinary subject Informatik, Mathematik, Physik (IMP) - sticking with STEM?

Abstract

The current state of research in computer science education outlines gender differences in motivation, interest, and elective subject decisions in favor of male students. This study takes an exploratory approach to examine the gender differences in the interdisciplinary STEM profile subject Informatik, Mathematik, Physik (in short: subject IMP), which combines the three subjects of computer science, mathematics, and physics. A survey was conducted involving n = 336 (m = 236, f = 88, o = 12) subject IMP students in the 10th grade attending a Gymnasium in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The deciding factors for choosing the subject, subject interest, motivation, and more were measured using a questionnaire. Overall, the subject IMP is most chosen by male students. For those students choosing the subject IMP, no statistically significant gender differences in subject interest in IMP, mathematics, and the STEM area or in motivation and vocational orientation in natural science and engineering were found in contrast to the state of research. The interdisciplinary character of the subject IMP could be more appealing to girls than computer science by itself. We conclude that, with a higher participation rate of female students, the subject IMP could be a first step in getting more women into STEM fields.