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Gender differences in motivational style: a comparison of measures and curriculum area
C G Rogers1, D Galloway, D Armstrong
1Department of Educational Research, University of Lancaster, UK.
Background:
Gender has long been implicated in school-based performance with gender differences varying across curriculum domains. Motivational differences have often been cited as a possible cause. However, evidence for the pattern of motivational difference between the genders is unclear.
Aims:
This study compares the motivational responses of girls and boys in the curriculum areas of mathematics and English. Two different measures of motivation are employed.
Samples:
The sample consists of all pupils from years 7, 9 and 11 in two secondary schools in Northern England. A total of 435 yr 7, 389 yr 9 and 357 yr 11 students was available.
Methods:
Students completed two assessments of motivation, one based on self-report measures of goal strength and the other on performance over four tasks. Some school performance data were also available.
Results:
The two motivation measures produce different patterns of results. The task-based measure shows no gender based differences while the other indicates a pattern of differences broadly suggestive of an advantage for girls.
Conclusions:
Future exploration of gender effects in motivation needs to give careful consideration to the type of motivation under consideration. Univariate models are unlikely to be adequate.
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