The Computer Expert in Mixed-Gendered Collaborative Writing Groups

Journal of Business and Technical Communication Apr 2005

The Computer Expert in Mixed-Gendered Collaborative Writing Groups

Joanna Wolfe University of Louisville Hospital ; Kara Poe Alexander University of Louisville Hospital

Abstract

When mixed-gendered student teams collaborate on technical writing tasks, a single male often emerges as the group computer expert. The effects of this trend on perceptions of workload are unknown. This article reports the results of a study in which 12 mixed-gendered teams answered questionnaires on the division and perceptions of labor in their teams. Detailed case studies of four teams supplement the questionnaires. Findings suggest that computer work was highly visible, highly valued, and dominated by men. By contrast, writing was less visible and selectively recognized. Some men were credited with strong writing skills even though they did not produce writing for the project. Moreover, some students explicitly leveraged their computer expertise to avoid writing; furthermore, these computer experts rarely shared technical expertise with others in the context of the team project.

Journal: Journal of Business and Technical Communication
Published: 2005-04-01
DOI: 10.1177/1050651904272978
Open Access: Closed
Topics: technical communication

Citation Context

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Cites in this index (5)

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Also cites 5 works outside this index ↓

10.2190/427X-RKEL-QLA5-PUK9

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10.7551/mitpress/2440.001.0001

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10.1080/0141192950210303

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10.1016/0360-1315(90)90058-F

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10.1177/108056990106400413

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