Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Gender differences in mathematical performance

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Educational Studies in Mathematics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The present study examined gender differences in children tested at grade levels two, four and six over an eleven year period. Total Mathematics, Mathematical Computation and Mathematical Concept Normal Curve Equivalency (NCE) scores were collected from the past eleven years of administrations of Science Research Associates (SRA) Achievement Series tests. Scores on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC or WISC-R) controlled for the influence of intellectual level. A multivariate analysis of covariance with repeated measures was used along with a test of magnitude of effect to analyze the data. No significant gender differences or gender by grade level differences were found. A significant difference was found, however, when grade levels were compared. There was a downward trend in performance on the mathematical tasks as grade level increased.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • BenbowP. and J. C.Stanley: 1980, ‘Sex differences in mathematical ability: Fact or artifact?’, Science 210(12), 1262–1264.

    Google Scholar 

  • BenbowP. and J. C.Stanley: 1981 ‘Mathematical ability: Is sex a factor?’ Science 212, 118.

    Google Scholar 

  • BenbowP. and J. C.Stanley: 1983a, ‘An eight year evaluation of SMPY: What was learned?’, in C.Benbow and J.Stanley (eds.), Academic Precocity: Aspects of Its Development, Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore, MD.

    Google Scholar 

  • BenbowP. and J. C.Stanley: 1983b, ‘Sex differences in mathematical reasoning ability: More facts’, Science 222, 1029–1031.

    Google Scholar 

  • FennemaE. and P.Peterson: 1985, ‘Autonomous learning behavior: A possible explanation of sex-related differences in mathematics’, Educational Studies in Mathematics 16, 309–310.

    Google Scholar 

  • KeppelG.: (1982), Design and Analysis: A Researcher's Handbook-Second Edition, Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

    Google Scholar 

  • LederG. C., 1984, ‘What price success? The view from the media’, The Exceptional Child 32, 223–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • LederG.: 1985, ‘Sex-related differences in mathematics: An overview’, Educational Studies in Mathematics 16, 304–309.

    Google Scholar 

  • ParsonsJ., J.Meece, T.Adler, and C.Kaczula: 1982, ‘Socialization of achievement attitudes and beliefs: Parental influences’, Child Development 53, 310–321.

    Google Scholar 

  • ShermanB. F.: 1987, ‘A cautionary note’, Educational Studies in Mathematics 18, 325–326.

    Google Scholar 

  • ‘Who is really better at math?’: 1982, TIME, March 2, p. 64.

  • Williams, D. A. and P. King: 1980, ‘Do males have a math gene?’, Newsweek, December 15, p. 73.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. East Carolina University, 27858-435, Greenville, North Carolina, U.S.A.

    Cathy W. Hall

  2. Holton Special Education Cooperative, 27858-435, Greenville, North Carolina, U.S.A.

    Cynthia Hoff

Authors
  1. Cathy W. Hall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cynthia Hoff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hall, C.W., Hoff, C. Gender differences in mathematical performance. Educ Stud Math 19, 395–401 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00312455

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00312455

Keywords

Search

Navigation