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Sex‐related differences on a task of volume and density
Author(s) -
Howe Ann C.,
Shayer Michael
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of research in science teaching
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.067
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1098-2736
pISSN - 0022-4308
DOI - 10.1002/tea.3660180209
Subject(s) - task (project management) , significant difference , psychology , developmental psychology , period (music) , mathematics education , demography , mathematics , statistics , sociology , management , physics , acoustics , economics
A sex‐related difference, favoring boys, was found on initial performance of two samples (one British, one American) of 10‐ and 11‐year‐old children on a task of volume and density. After a period of classroom instruction that included opportunities for children to interact with appropriate materials and each other, both boys and girls performed at a higher level on the task, but the difference between them remained the same. There was no indication of a sex‐related difference other than a time lag, in pattern of development of the concept. The question of why there is a sex‐related difference, which persists in spite of experience and instruction, is discussed.