Ungas datoranvändning finns det några könsskillnader?
The purpose of this study was to examine if there are gender differences in computer use among the young. Our aim was to find out in what respects boys and girls differ, if at all. The main method of investigation is a literature review. We have also made a complementary empirical study in a public library. The literature studied principally covers computer use at home and in school. Our empirical study was made mostly using interviews. It deals mainly with the use of computer games in a library. Besides giving us additional information, the results from the empirical study are compared with the results from the literature review. As theoretical viewpoints we have literature that explains gender-based differences biologically and literature that relates the differences to the process of socialization. The results of the study reveal that there are some gender differences in computer use. The most significant are the differences in the time spent using computers, what the computers are used for and self-confidence with respect to using computers. We found that the boys included in our study both literature and empirical parts spend more time using computers. The literature review shows that boys are more self-confident when using computers. It also shows that boys are more likely to use computers to secure entertainment when girls use them as a tool, e.g. for graphic design or as word processors. Both parts of the study reveal differences in the preferences of computer games between the sexes.