This book explores gender differences in math performance--and why males outperform females on high stakes standardized tests but not in the classroom. These differences are important because scores on such tests are generally used in decisions that have important consequences for students such as college admissions and job placement. The contributions in this volume present a variety of theories and research that help to explain the differences, and highlight the consequences. Illustratively, if females receive lower scores on the tests, they are likely to be exposed to fewer opportunities thereafter.
Contents
Preface; 1. Research on the women and mathematics issue: a personal case history Susan Chipman; 2. The perseverative search for sex differences in mathematic ability Paula Caplan and Jeremy Caplan; 3. A psychobiosocial model: why females are sometimes > and sometimes < males in math achievement Diane Halpern, Jonathan Wai and Amanda Saw; 4. Gender differences in math: cognitive processes in an expanded framework James Byrnes; 5. Cognitive contributions to sex differences in math performance James M. Royer and Laura M. Garofoli; 6. Spatial ability as a mediator of gender differences on mathematics tests: a biological-environmental framework M. Beth Casey, Ronald Nuttal and Elizabeth Pezaris; 7. Examining gender-related differential item functioning using insights from psychometric and multicontext theory Rob Ibarra; 8. The gender-gap artifact: women's underperformance in quantitative domains through the lens of stereotype threat Paul Davies and Steve Spencer; 9. 'Math is hard!' (Barbie, 1994): responses of threat vs challenge mediated arousal of stereotypes alleging intellectual inferiority Talia Ben Zee, Cristina M. Carrasquillo, Alison M. L. Ching, Tattiya J. Kliengklom, Kristen L. McDonald, Daniel C. Newhall, Gillian E. Patton, Tiffany D. Stewart, Tonya Stoddard, Michael Inzlicht and Steve Fein; 10. The role of ethnicity on the gender gap in mathematics Alyssa Walters and Lisa Brown; 11. The gender gap in mathematics: merely a step function Sophia Catsambis; 12. 'I can, but I don't want to': the impact of parents, interests, and activities on gender differences in math Janis E. Jacobs, Pamela Davis-Kean, Martha Bleeker, Jacquelynne S. Eccles and Oksana Malachuk; 13. Gender effects on mathematics achievement: mediating role of state and trait self-regulation Eunsook Hong, Harold O'Neil and David Feldon; 14. Gender differences in mathematics self efficacy beliefs Frank Pajares; 15. Integrative conclusion Ann Gallagher and James Kaufman.
Reviews
"The under representation of women in many mathematically based disciplines and careers has received renewed attention in the media recently, making this collection of articles that report on social scientific research into gender differences in mathematics timely indeed. Highly recommended." Choice
"Gender Differences in Mathematics provides timely and useful coverage of what we currently know about these differences and an interesting historical snapshot of the various arguments and debates regarding these differences."
David C. Gray, British Journal of Educational Studies
"We strongly recommend this book for those involved in interpreting gender-related investigations, including researchers interested in studying individual differences in mathematics performance, policy makers who make gender-relevant decisions, and educators who interact with students learning mathematics." - Marcia Linn and Cathy Kessel, Psychology of Women Quarterly
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