Can Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) Promote Counter-stereotypical Gender Communication Styles in Male and Female University Students?☆

Abstract Recent developments have shown that to solve complex problems we need cooperative, competitive, creative and good team worker. Online education can favor integration of the best features traditionally attributed to males and females. Our study examined whether educational settings with specific characteristics (small group, CSCL, asynchronous communication), could promote counter-stereotypical communication styles both in males and females. Forty psychology students attending La Sapienza University were divided into two groups (male/female) and learned the same professional skills. We used Bales’ IPA's group observation grid for the content analysis and Chi-square test to investigate communication style. Results we obtained confirm our hypothesis.

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