User perceptions and gender in end-user debugging: How do they affect outcomes?

Empirical studies of end-user debugging have revealed that males outperform females. An explanation of this phenomenon is that males have higher perceived self-efficacy (or confidence) than females in their ability to debug. However, it is not clear whether self-efficacy is the primary or sole user self-perception that affects males' and females' performance. In this study, we investigate additional factors that may predict performance, including perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and intensity of flow. A hierarchical regression including both genders was used to analyze the relationships of the users' self-perceptions on performance outcomes. The results show that self-efficacy, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness are most predictive of performance. Surprisingly, females' self-perceptions did not predict performance.