Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sex differences in the learning of post-secondary mathematics in a neo-literate society

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

Abstract

This paper investigates the enrollment disparities and sex differences in the learning of post-secondary mathematics course at the University of Papual New Guinea. The 1984 and 1985 intakes of Preliminary Year and Matriculation Studies were taken as samples. Seven instruments were developed and administered. The results showed great disparity in the enrollment of females. The mathematics performance in the middle and over the whole course was compared by using thet-test. There was no significant difference in the mathematics achievement of males and females. The probable reason seems to be the higher SES of female students as they were from comparatively better homes.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aiken L. R.Jr: 1972, ‘Biodata correlates of attitudes toward mathematics in three age and two sex groups’,School Science and Mathematics LXXII, 386–395.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bacchus M. K. et al.: 1985,Report on Upper Secondary Education in Papua New Guinea, Department of Education, Waigani.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berryman, J. C.: 1981,Sex Differences in Behaviour: Their Relevance for Adult Educators, Department of Adult Education, University of Nottingham.

  • Boswell S. L. and P. A. Katz: 1980, Nice girls don't study mathematics, Boulder, Colorado, Institute for Research on Social Problems. Microfiche No. ED 188 888.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarkson P.: 1983,Papua New Guinea Students' Causal Attributions for Success and Failure in Mathematics, Mathematics Education Centre, PNGUT, Lae, Report No. 27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarkson P. and H. Whippy: 1981, ‘Papua New Guinea university students attitudes to mathematics’, in P. Clarkson (ed.),Research in Mathematics Education in Papua New Guinea, Mathematics Education Centre, PNGUT, Lae, pp. 21–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, M. M.: 1986, Personal communication, Department of Extension Studies, UPNG, Waigani.

  • Department of Education: 1985,Growth of Education since Independence: 1975–1985, Department of Education, Waigani.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ethington C. A. and L. M. Wolfle: 1984, ‘Sex differences in causal model of mathematics achievement’,Journal for Research in Mathematics Education 15(5), 361–377.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fennema E.: 1979, ‘Women and girls in mathematics—Equality in mathematics education’,Educational Studies in Mathematics 10, 389–401.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fennema, E.: 1985 (ed.), ‘Explaining sex-related differences in mathematics: Theoretical models’,Educational Studies in Mathematics 16(3), 303–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fennema E. and T. P. Carpenter: 1981, ‘Sex related differences in mathematics: Results from national assessment’,The Mathematics Teacher 74(7), 554–559.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fennema E. and J. Sherman: 1977, ‘Sex-related differences in mathematics achievement, spatial visualization and affective factors’,American Educational Research Journal 14(1), 51–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fennema E. and J. Sherman: 1978, ‘Sex-related differences in mathematics achievement and related factors: A further study’,Journal for Research in Mathematics Education 9, 189–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hilton T. L. and G. W. Berglund: 1974, ‘Sex differences in mathematics achievement: A longitudinal study’,The Journal of Educational Research 67(5), 231–237.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones P. L.: 1981,Learning Mathematics in Second Language, Mathematics Education Centre, PNGUT, Lae, Report No. 19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaeley, G. S.: 1976, ‘Three way teacher training in Kenya: A descriptive study of the inservice training of unqualified primary school teachers in modern mathematics in Kenya (1973–1974)’, Unpublished Master's Degree Thesis, University of Nairobi, Nairobi.

  • Kaniku A. N.: 1984, ‘Those Massin women’, (mimeographed), History Department, UPNG, Waigani.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kember D.: 1980, ‘The demand for extension studies courses at UPNG, 1979’,Papua New Guinea Journal of Education 16(2), 194–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kember D. 1981, ‘Some factors affecting attrition and performance in a distance education course at the university of Papua New Guinea’,Distance Education 2(2), 164–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kulkarni S. S. et al.: 1969, ‘A survey of mathematics achievement in Indian schools’,Indian Educational Review 4(1), 1–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lancy D. E.: 1979,Education Report, 1976–1979, Reports and Essays, Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Konedobu.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lancy D. E.: 1983,Cross-Cultural Studies in Cognition and Mathematics, Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leder G.: 1980, ‘Bright girls mathematics and fear of success’,Educational Studies in Mathematics, D. Reidel Publishing Co., Dordrecht, Holland, pp. 411–422.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leder, G.: 1985, ‘Sex related differences in mathematics: An overview’, in E. Fennema (ed.), ‘Explaining sex related differences in mathematics: Theoretical models’,Educational Studies in Mathematics 16(3), 304–309.

  • Lee W.: 1985, ‘Women's groups in Papua New Guinea: Shedding the legacy of drop scones and embroidered pillowcases’,Community Development Journal 20(3), 224–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mannur, H. G.: 1986, Personal communication, Department of Economics, UPNG, Waigani.

  • McIntosh N. and V. Morrison: 1974, ‘Student demand, progress and withdrawal — An analysis of the Open University's first four years’,Higher Education Review 7(1), 37–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Measurement Services Unit: 1985, ‘Analysis of 1982 grade 6 examination results’, Department of Education, Waigani.

    Google Scholar 

  • Measurement Services Unit: 1986,School Certificate Examination Report, Department of Education, Waigani.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meece J. L. et al.: 1982, ‘Sex differences in mathematical achievement: Toward a model of academic choice’,Psychological Bulletin 91(2), 324–348.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melbourne University Press and University of Papua New Guinea: 1972,Encylopaedia of Papua New Guinea 2, 1065–1069.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moss J. D.: 1982,Towards Equality: Progress by Girls in Mathematics in Australian Secondary Schools, Occasional Paper No. 16, Australian Council for Educational Research, Hawthorn, Microfiche No. ED 213 604.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Planning Office: 1984,The National Public Expenditure Plant 1985–88, Waigani.

  • Neuendorf A.: 1981, ‘Limits to expanding formal education’, B. Anderson (ed.),The Right to Learn, Department of Education, Waigani, pp. 42–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nevin M.: 1973, ‘Sex differences in participation rates in mathematics and science at irish schools and universities’,International Review of Education 19, 88–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ros L.: 1983, ‘Monitoring standards in mathematics of the grade 10 output—Research report 1983’ (mimeographed), Mathematics Department, Goroka Teachers College, Goroka.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosier M. J.: 1980, Changes in Secondary School Mathematics in Australia 1964–1978. The Australian Council for Educational Research Ltd., Hawthorn, Victoria, Microfiche No. ED 195 402.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherman J.: 1980, ‘Mathematics, spatial visualization, and related factors: Changes in girls and boys, grades 8-11’,Journal of Educational Psychology 72(4), 476–482.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shuard H. B.: 1983, ‘Differences in mathematical performance between grils and boys’, W. H. Cockcroft, (chairman)Mathematics Counts, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, pp. 273–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silvey J.: 1978,Academic Success in PNG High Schools, ERU, UPNG, Waigani, Research Report No. 26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Skemp R. R.: 1971,The Psychology of Learning Mathematics, Penguin Books, Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan P.: 1983,Remediation of Basic Arithmetic Weaknesses in Post-Secondary Students, Mathematics Education Centre, PNGUT, Lae, Report No. 28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swafford J. O.: 1980, ‘Sex differences in first-year algebra’,Journal for Research on Mathematics Education 11, 335–345.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, J. C. and V. J. White: 1982, ‘Student achievement as a function of perceived study time: A comparative analysis’, paper presented at the Twelfth World Conference of the International Council for Correspondence Education, Vancouver.

  • Thomas, E. B.: 1976, ‘A comparative study of senior high school students in Papua New Guinea and Western District of Victoria’, Ph.D Thesis, UPNG.

  • Thorndike R. L.: 1967, ‘Mathematics test and attitude inventory scores’, T. Husen (ed.),International Study of Achievement in Mathematics, Vol. II, Almqvist and Wiksell, Stockholm, pp. 21–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tuppen C. J. S.: 1981,School and Student Differences: Grade Ten Examination and Assessment Results, ERU, UPNG, Waigani, Research Report No. 39.

    Google Scholar 

  • University of Papua New Guinea Records Office.

  • Walker P.: 1975, ‘The university performance of mature students’,Research in Education 14, 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weeks S. G.: 1985, ‘Students and background: A literature review’, M. Bray, and P. Smith (eds.),Education and Social Stratification in Papua New Guinea, Longman Cheshire Pty Ltd., Melbourne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weeks S. G.: 1977,The Social Background of Tertiary Students in PNG, ERU, UPNG, Waigani, Research Report No. 22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werdelin I.: 1985, ‘Sex-age differences: A comparative study of the development of the factorial structure of intellectual abilities in boys and girls’ (mimeographed), University of Linkoping, Sweden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wozencraft M.: 1963, ‘Are boys better than girls in arithmetic?’,Arithmetic Teacher 10, 486–490.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Extension Studies, University of Papua New Guinea University, NCD, P.O. Box 341, Papua New Guinea

    G. S. Kaeley

Authors
  1. G. S. Kaeley
    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

Kaeley, G.S. Sex differences in the learning of post-secondary mathematics in a neo-literate society. Educ Stud Math 19, 435–457 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00578693

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00578693

Keywords

Search

Navigation