Mathematics Report Roundup

Gender and Math

By Debra Viadero — October 19, 2010 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

When it comes to mathematics, males and females are about equally skilled, according to a new review of the research on that topic.

A pair of researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison systematically analyzed 242 studies published since 1990 that assessed the math skills of nearly 1.3 million people—including elementary school students, college students, and adults. They also examined results for adolescents taking part over the past 20 years in large-scale, long-term studies, such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Contrary to common perceptions giving male students an edge over females in mathematics, the Wisconsin researchers concluded that, overall, performance differences between the two genders is so slight as to be meaningless.

Their study is being published this month in the online version of the journal Psychological Bulletin.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the October 20, 2010 edition of Education Week as Gender and Math

Events

Artificial Intelligence K-12 Essentials Forum How AI Use Is Expanding in K-12 Schools
Join this free virtual event to explore how AI technology is—and is not—improving K-12 teaching and learning.
Federal Webinar The Trump Budget and Schools: Subscriber Exclusive Quick Hit
EdWeek subscribers, join this 30-minute webinar to find out what the latest federal policy changes mean for K-12 education.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Curriculum Webinar
End Student Boredom: K-12 Publisher's Guide to 70% Engagement Boost
Calling all K-12 Publishers! Student engagement flatlining? Learn how to boost it by up to 70%.
Content provided by KITABOO

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Mathematics A Subset of Math Skills Predicts Algebra 1 Success. What Are They?
Certain skills from prior grades may be more important to revisit than others, a new report suggests.
6 min read
Illustration in blue and red of a student learning algebra from math teacher
iStock/Getty
Mathematics Opinion Data Literacy Is an Essential Skill. Let’s Teach It That Way
Here are three steps for ensuring every student is prepared for a data-driven future.
Shakiyya Bland
4 min read
A vector silhouette illustration of students standing on arrows in front of a graph. Data literacy taught in schools.
DigitalVision Vectors + iStock + Education Week
Mathematics Q&A Want to Prepare Students for Navigating an AI-Driven World? Start in Math Class
Educators can leverage math class to teach students the problem-solving and interpersonal skills they will need.
4 min read
AI Artificial Intelligence Blueprint 3D Cube Grid Modern Background Design
DigitalVision Vectors
Mathematics From Our Research Center Math Gets Progressively More Abstract. Here's How to Help Students Keep Up
Math fluency requires more than just memorizing facts and procedures, but also knowing how and when to use them.
4 min read
A child jumps from one block to another. progressing through Math.
Eglė Plytnikaitė for Education Week