Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explains that Girls into Science and Technology (GIST) was an innovative action research programme with the twin aims of investigating the causes of female underachievement in science and technology, whilst simultaneously trying to change the situation. The book describes the schools, which were mostly urban comprehensives, all in the Greater Manchester area, and the preparatory in-service workshops for teachers with which the project began. Interventions in the GIST action schools were designed to deal with some of the barriers to girls, both formal and informal. The book describes some of the findings from cognitive and attitude testing on the GIST children. It links the more important findings to the behaviour and response of the GIST cohort in the schools.