Computer interest differences in preschool children according to sex and psychological sex-typing

The computer interest of 3- and 4-year-old children attending a university-affiliated day care center was assessed via their participation in self-selected computer activities. Computer participation involved a 3-step process culminating in terminal interaction: proximity, observation, and working. Results of 2-way analyses of variance unexpectedly indicated higher computer interest scores for females than males; however, no effects were found for age. Pearson correlations indicated a pattern of negative relationships between boys’ preference for the adult male role and the computer interest variables.