The mathematical skills of boys and girls, as well as men and women, are largely equal, according to a new examination of existing studies in the online edition of the journal Psychological Bulletin.
The mathematical skills of boys and girls, as well as men and women, are largely equal, according to a new examination of existing studies in the online edition of the journal Psychological Bulletin. One portion of the new study looked systematically at 242 articles that assessed the maths skills of 1,286,350 people, says chief author Janet Hyde.
A second portion of the new study examined the results of several large, long-term scientific studies, including the National Assessment of Educational Progress (which is conducted in the US). In both cases, Hyde says, the difference between the two sexes was so close as to be meaningless.
The idea that both genders have equal maths abilities is widely accepted among social scientists, Hyde adds, but word has been slow to reach teachers and parents, who can play a negative role by guiding girls away from maths-heavy sciences and engineering. Scientists now know that stereotypes affect performance, Hyde adds. “If, before a test, you imply that women should expect to do a little worse than men, that hurts performance. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.”
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