Ethics -- She Says, He Says

Topic area

Ethics and Gender

Target audience

Undergraduate Students

Activity type

Questionnaire for CIS students to self-administer and administer to three others; Class discussion

Time required

1 1/2 class periods; 20-30 minutes of one class period to build database; second class period for discussion to draw comparisons with references.

Attachments

Ethical Scenarios Survey

Also on-line www.uark.edu/depts/cisqinfo/cronan/pchome.html

 

Additional Materials

 

 

 

Article: M. Chaika, Ethical Considerations in Gender-Oriented Entertainment Technology, http://www.acm.org/crossroads

Article: Jennifer Kreie and T.P. Cronan, How Men and Women View Ethics; CACM, September, 1998,

Background needed to complete the assignment

Basic exposure to the computer science major and computing

References

Women and Computing, Frenkel, Karen A., CACM, Nov. 1990, v33, n11, p. 34(13).

I'm a Stranger Here Myself. Cotrell, Janet. CACM, 1992. http://www.inform.umd.edu/EdRes/Topic/WomensStudies/computing/

Last modified

August 12, 1999

Abstract: Several statements have been made that men and women view ethics relating to computer usage differently. This exercise involves collecting information about men and women's views on several ethical scenarios and having the class draw conclusions to determine if this is really the case. Information on design of electronic games for men and women as well as viewpoints about the gender differences between men and women as relates to computers are also explored.

Goals for the activity:

  1. Investigate current beliefs about ethical gender differences as relates to computers and computer scientists.
  2. Compare known individuals to the statistics quoted in articles.
  3. Explore how these "differences" may affect the workplace for computer scientists.

Knowledge / skills / attitudes to be developed (behavioral objectives):

  1. The student will gain an understanding of literature regarding gender differences in computer science relating to ethics.
  2. The student will analyze empirical data regarding these ethical gender differences.
  3. The student will explore their own ethical decisions and compare/contrast them to the examples given.

Procedure:

  1. Each student will fill out the questionnaire regarding the ethical scenarios.
  2. Each student will ask three friends to complete the survey, one of the same gender and two of the opposite gender.
  3. The student will justify their responses to the questionnaire.
  4. The class will build a database of responses based on surveys.
  5. The class will read the Kreie/Cronan article outside class. During class they will compare the outcomes to the statistics in the Kreie/Cronan article.
  6. The class will debate/explore justifications for and against the acceptability of choices.
  7. The class will use the other references to attempt to analyze and compare the choices given in relationship to the gender differences described in the references. Various class members will read various references to provide a variety of viewpoints for discussion.
  8. Suggested procedure for class discussion: Take each scenario, assign some students to "acceptable" and others to "not acceptable." Reverse roles for the next scenario. Alternately, divide the class into five groups, requiring each to be prepared to defend both sides.

Assessing outcomes:

Students will be graded on participation at two levels: (1) turning in completed surveys; (2) participation in class discussion.

Additional remarks:

Other references: The Ada Project, TAP resources; www.cs.yale.edu/~tap/tap.html

Chaika, Melissa. "Computer Game Marketing Bias.", Crossroads, Feb. 1995. http://www.acm.org/crossroads.

Cranor, Lorrie F. An Alternative Review of Doom 2; Crossroads, February 1995. http://www.acm.org/crossroads/

Ogozalek, V. Z. "A Comparison of Male and Female Computer Science Students Attitudes Toward Computers", SIGCSE Bulletin, 21, 2 (June 1989), 8-14.

Huff, C. and Cooper, J. Sex Bias in Educational Software: The Effect of Designer's Stereotypes on the Software They Design," Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 17, June 1987, 6, pp. 519-532.

Huff, Chuck

Loch, K. D. and Conger, S. "Evaluating Ethical Decision Making and Computer Use". CACM 39, (July 1996), 74-83.

Author contact information:

Andrea W. Lawrence

Spelman College, Box 362

Atlanta, GA 30314

Lawrence@spelman.edu

 404-223-7616

Page maintained by: kwb@csee.usf.edu