Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2026
10:58
Multimedia Battery for Assessment of Cognitive and Basic Skills in Mathematics (BM-PROMA)
Published on: August 28, 2021
New trends in gender and mathematics performance: a meta-analysis
Sara M Lindberg1, Janet Shibley Hyde, Jennifer L Petersen
1School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
Psychological Bulletin
|November 3, 2010
Summary
Gender differences in mathematics performance are minimal. Meta-analyses of over 1.2 million individuals and large-scale U.S. adolescent datasets reveal no significant disparities in math abilities between males and females.
Area of Science:
- Educational Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Gender Studies
Background:
- Concerns persist regarding gender disparities in STEM fields.
- Understanding gender differences in mathematics performance is crucial for educational equity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively synthesize research on gender differences in mathematics performance.
- To examine these differences across a broad range of studies and large datasets.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a meta-analysis of 242 studies (1990-2007) involving 1,286,350 participants.
- Analyzed large-scale U.S. adolescent datasets from national longitudinal studies over 20 years.
Main Results:
- Overall meta-analysis showed a negligible effect size (d = 0.05) with near-equal variances.
- Analysis of U.S. adolescent data yielded effect sizes between -0.15 and +0.22, with variance ratios from 0.88 to 1.34.
Conclusions:
- Findings indicate no significant gender differences in mathematics performance.
- Both meta-analytic and large-scale dataset analyses support similar mathematical abilities between males and females.
Related Concept Videos
02:09Stereotype Threat and Self-fulfilling Prophecies
When we hold a stereotype about a person, we have expectations that he or she will fulfill that stereotype. A self-fulfilling prophecy is an expectation held by a person that alters his or her behavior in a way that tends to make it true. When we hold stereotypes about a person, we tend to treat the person according to our expectations. This treatment can influence the person to act according to our stereotypic expectations, thus confirming our stereotypic beliefs. Research by Rosenthal and...
01:30Socioemotional Experience and Gender Development
Social-emotional experiences and cultural influences play significant roles in shaping gender development. During middle childhood, from ages 6 to 11, peer groups become dominant in reinforcing gender norms. Children in this age group often align with same-gender peer groups, which actively encourage behaviors that conform to traditional gender roles. For instance, boys may be discouraged from engaging in activities perceived as feminine, reinforcing culturally dictated norms about masculinity...
01:52Regression Toward the Mean
Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...
01:17Two-Way ANOVA
The two-way ANOVA is an extension of the one-way ANOVA. It is a statistical test performed on three or more samples categorized by two factors - a row factor and a column factor. Ronald Fischer mentioned it in 1925 in his book 'Statistical Methods for Researchers.'
The two-way ANOVA analysis initially begins by stating the null hypothesis that there is an interaction effect between the two factors of a dataset. This effect can be visualized using line segments formed by joining the means for...
The two-way ANOVA analysis initially begins by stating the null hypothesis that there is an interaction effect between the two factors of a dataset. This effect can be visualized using line segments formed by joining the means for...
01:07Multiple Bar Graph
As the name suggests, a multiple bar graph is the same as a bar graph but has multiple bars to depict relationships between different data values. One can include as many parameters as possible. However, each parameter must have the same unit of measurement.
Each bar or column in the multiple bar graph represents a data value. These graphs are used primarily in interrelating two or more sets of data. The categories of different kinds of data are listed along the horizontal or x-axis, whereas...
Each bar or column in the multiple bar graph represents a data value. These graphs are used primarily in interrelating two or more sets of data. The categories of different kinds of data are listed along the horizontal or x-axis, whereas...
01:15Geometric Mean
The mean is a measure of the central tendency of a data set. In some data sets, the data is inherently multiplicative, and the arithmetic mean is not useful. For example, the human population multiplies with time, and so does the credit amount of financial investment, as the interest compounds over successive time intervals.
In cases of multiplicative data, the geometric mean is used for statistical analysis. First, the product of all the elements is taken. Then, if there are n elements in the...
In cases of multiplicative data, the geometric mean is used for statistical analysis. First, the product of all the elements is taken. Then, if there are n elements in the...