Question

With regard to differences between males and females in math skills, which of the following is correct?

a. Males on the average do somewhat better than females in all areas of math skill testing.
b. These differences have changed historically, and there is now little difference before grade 12.
c. Boys are on the average better than girls on math computations in elementary school and early adolescence.
d. Girls are on the average better than boys on math problem solving after puberty.

Answer 1

The correct answer is that differences in math skills between males and females have changed historically, with little difference now noted before grade 12. Research shows that cultural factors, educational opportunities, and encouragement play significant roles in shaping abilities rather than inherent gender differences.

Step-by-step explanation:

Regarding differences between males and females in math skills, option b is correct: These differences have changed historically, and there is now little difference before grade 12. Research, including that examined by biologist Anne Fausto-Sterling, indicates that cognitive abilities between boys and girls show no statistically significant difference in most cases. The small differences that do exist in certain studies often lack relevance to educational and employment contexts. It's important to consider the role of culture, parenting styles, and educational opportunities, as these factors can influence performance more significantly than biology alone. For instance, when girls were given the same opportunity to practice spatial abilities as boys, they achieved equal performance levels.

Historically, several studies show that when differences were reported in spatial abilities, boys had the advantage. However, these differences were small, often attributed to the different encouragement received by each gender in their childhood. Cross-cultural studies have shown that in societies where girls are allowed more autonomy, such as among the Inuit, no differences in spatial abilities were observed between genders. This stands in contrast to societies where girls have more restrictive upbringings and therefore often display differences in performance compared to boys.

In the classroom, there are documented cases where boys receive more praise and encouragement from teachers than girls, which could influence confidence and performance in subjects like mathematics. As education and society continue to evolve, the dynamics of how boys and girls experience learning are changing, and gender differences in mathematical ability, especially before grade 12, are negligible to non-existent.