Introductory Physics Gender Gaps: Pre- and Post-Studio Transition
written by
Patrick B. Kohl and H. Vincent Kuo
Prior work has characterized the gender gaps present in college-level introductory physics courses. Such work has also shown that research-based interactive engagement techniques can reduce or eliminate these gender gaps. In this paper, we study the gender gaps (and lack thereof) in the introductory calculus-based electricity and magnetism course at the Colorado School of Mines. We present eight semesters' worth of data, totaling 2577 students, with four semesters preceding a transition to Studio physics, and four following. We examine gender gaps in course grades, DFW (D grade, fail, or withdrawal) rates, and normalized gains on the Conceptual Survey of Electricity and Magnetism (CSEM), and consider factors such as student ACT scores and grades in prior math classes. We find little or no gap in male/female course grades and DFW rates, but substantial gaps in CSEM gains that are reduced somewhat by the transition to Studio physics.
Physics Education Research Conference 2009
Part of the PER Conference series
Ann Arbor, Michigan: July 29-30, 2009
Volume 1179, Pages 173-176
CSEM, Conceptual Survey on Electricity and Magnetism, PERC 2009, curricular transition, gender gap, gender gaps, interactive engagement, reformed curriculum, studio environment, studio physics
Record Cloner:
Metadata instance created October 7, 2009
by Alea Smith
<a href="https://www.per-central.org/items/detail.cfm?ID=9476">Kohl, Patrick B., and Vince Kuo. "Introductory Physics Gender Gaps: Pre- and Post-Studio Transition." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 29-30, 2009.</a>
P. Kohl and V. Kuo, , presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2009, WWW Document, (https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9476&DocID=1350).
P. Kohl and V. Kuo, Introductory Physics Gender Gaps: Pre- and Post-Studio Transition, presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2009, <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9476&DocID=1350>.
Kohl, P., & Kuo, V. (2009, July 29-30). Introductory Physics Gender Gaps: Pre- and Post-Studio Transition. Paper presented at Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Retrieved May 4, 2025, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9476&DocID=1350
Kohl, Patrick B., and Vince Kuo. "Introductory Physics Gender Gaps: Pre- and Post-Studio Transition." Paper presented at the Physics Education Research Conference 2009, Ann Arbor, Michigan, July 29-30, 2009. https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9476&DocID=1350 (accessed 4 May 2025).
Kohl, Patrick B., and Vince Kuo. "Introductory Physics Gender Gaps: Pre- and Post-Studio Transition." Physics Education Research Conference 2009. Ann Arbor, Michigan: 2009. 173-176 Vol. 1179 of PER Conference. 4 May 2025 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9476&DocID=1350>.
%A Patrick B. Kohl %A Vince Kuo %T Introductory Physics Gender Gaps: Pre- and Post-Studio Transition %S PER Conference %V 1179 %D July 29-30 2009 %P 173-176 %C Ann Arbor, Michigan %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9476&DocID=1350 %O Physics Education Research Conference 2009 %O July 29-30 %O application/pdf
%0 Conference Proceedings %A Kohl, Patrick B. %A Kuo, Vince %D July 29-30 2009 %T Introductory Physics Gender Gaps: Pre- and Post-Studio Transition %B Physics Education Research Conference 2009 %C Ann Arbor, Michigan %V 1179 %P 173-176 %S PER Conference %8 July 29-30 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=9476&DocID=1350
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