37 Sex differences in Intelligence Flashcards Preview

2014 Personality and Intelligence > 37 Sex differences in Intelligence > Flashcards

Flashcards in 37 Sex differences in Intelligence Deck (19)
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1
Q

What’s the difference between a narrative review and a metaanalysis?

A

Narrative review – collect all papers related to research question – eyeball all papers and say what they say. Qualitative summary.

Metaanalysis – convert all results into the same metric.

2
Q

What did Lynn and Irwing conclude in their 2004 metaanalysis of sex differences on Raven’s Progressive Matrices?

A

Males are better than females. Males are the best. Girls suck!!!

<15 years - no difference
15-19 - 2 IQ points greater
Undergrads - Males 3-5 IQ points greater
Adults - Males 5 IQ points greater

Greatest difference is in adults, d = .3

3
Q

What are the differences in individual abilities between men and women?

A

Women better at spelling (d= .45) and language (d=.4)

Men better at spatial perception (d=.44), mental rotation (d=.65) and mechanical reasoning (d=.76).

4
Q

How has the gender gap in g been explained by differences in spatial ability?

A

Raven’s (the g measure) test spatial ability as well as general reasoning. When spatial ability controlled for, gender gap disappears.

5
Q

How can tests of gender differences in intelligence have been confounded by convenience samples?

A

Lots of testing in the army (not many females; those that are not typical) and Psych undergrad (not many males; not typical). This is clearly not a standard gender composition.

6
Q

How might tests be disguising gender differences?

A

Tests are intentionally constructed so that men and women score equally. Items that create gender differences are removed. So zero difference may be created by the test.

7
Q

How does the distribution of male and female IQ vary?

A

On the WAIS, men have a higher SD (15.3) than women (14.5).

8
Q

What three hypotheses have been posited to explain gender differences in spatial ability?

A
  1. The male foraging hypothesis
    - Men who navigate land well and throw weapons have better selective value
  2. Range hypothesis
    - Men who navigate environments better can seek out more mates
  3. Warfare hypothesis
    - Men good at warfare, which involves negotiating landscapes and throwing stuff, are more likely to survive
9
Q

What can meadow voles tell us about differences in spatial abilities?

A

Meadow voles – males better than females at spatial tasks. Other voles – prairie etc. – no difference.

10
Q

How might differences in lateralization account for male superiority in spatial ability?

A

Women tend to use both sides of brain to solve mental rotation tasks, men use only one side, which is more neurally efficient.

11
Q

How do men and women differ in route-learning strategies?

A

Males use distance and cardinal (compass points) directions

Females use landmarks and relative directions (left, right)

12
Q

What do testosterone levels predict in route-learning in males?

A

Testosterone levels in males are positively correlated with male-biased (i.e. distance and cardinal) route-learning strategies.

13
Q

How might hormones cause sex differences in spatial abilities?

A

Testosterone levels in males predicted performance in mental rotation tasks.

14
Q

How do men and women differ in self-reported abilities?

A
  • Men tend to self-report intelligence as higher than women do.
  • Men see strengths in logical and spatial abilities.
  • Women see their strengths in language and personal intelligence.
15
Q

How does toy choice differ in infants?

A

From 9 months, boys want trucks, girls want dolls and animals.

16
Q

What environmental factors might account for gender differences in abilities?

A

Boys given more freedom to explore, and play more sports and computer games.

Girls play with dolls, develop verbal skills.

17
Q

What happens if you train girls on a spatial ability computer game?

A

Gender gap is all but eliminated.

18
Q

How might educational choices explain gender differences in abilities?

A

Girls may not favour male-stereotyped subjects such as maths and science.

19
Q

How do gender differences in spatial abilities vary across SES?

A

No gender difference in low-SES. Possibly because no access to technology to facilitate spatial learning. And no safe neighbourhood to explore.

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