Design exercises as confidence equalizers: differences in confidence between male and female students

Key Points

• This research examines whether short design exercises boost confidence equally among male and female students.
• Conducted over 7 semesters with a total of 426 students (201 females, 225 males)
• Utilized four design exercises: yield, creep, impact, and fatigue
• Performed regression analysis to evaluate confidence differences pre- and post-exercise.
• Females reported initially lower confidence (p<.001, g=0.31), but matched males in final confidence after exercises.
• No significant differences in final or change in confidence (Δ) between genders (p=.42, g=0.03).
• Integration of design exercises reduces sex-based disparities in engineering confidence.