Gender Differences in the Development of Numerical Skills in Four European Countries

Authors

  • Helga Krinzinger Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of RWTH Aachen University
  • Liane Kaufmann Institute of Psychology, University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tyrol, Austria
  • Jacques Gregoire Faculty of Psychology, Université Catholique de Louvain,Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
  • Annemie Desoete Ghent University & University College Arteveldehogeschool, Ghent, Belgium
  • Hans-Christoph Nuerk Institute of Psychology, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
  • Klaus Willmes Section Neuropsychology, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University

Keywords:

mathematics, cultural differences, elementary school

Abstract

Gender differences have been reported frequently for mathematical performance of boys and girls but usually not before adolescence. Therefore, developmental origins of a possible male advantage in numerical skills are understudied. In a large sample of second graders from four European countries, we found significant gender differences in favour of boys in writing multi-digit Arabic numerals from dictation, and in subtraction and multiplication. We discuss the latter findings with reference to a possible male advantage in visual-spatial cognition ability.

Author Biographies

  • Helga Krinzinger, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of RWTH Aachen University
    Section Child Neuropsychology, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of the RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
  • Liane Kaufmann, Institute of Psychology, University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tyrol, Austria

  • Jacques Gregoire, Faculty of Psychology, Université Catholique de Louvain,Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium

  • Annemie Desoete, Ghent University & University College Arteveldehogeschool, Ghent, Belgium



  • Hans-Christoph Nuerk, Institute of Psychology, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany

  • Klaus Willmes, Section Neuropsychology, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University

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Published

16-04-2012

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2012)

Section

Research and theoretical papers

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How to Cite

Gender Differences in the Development of Numerical Skills in Four European Countries. (2012). International Journal of Gender, Science and Technology, 4(1), 62-77. https://genderandset.open.ac.uk/index.php/genderandset/article/view/155