Exam 8: Abilities, Motivation, and Achievement

In a study by Levine et al. (2005), elementary school children were tested in two areas of spatial performance: mental rotation and map reading. No gender differences were found among the low-income children, but the usual gender difference has found for middle- and upper-income children. What can you infer about these findings that explain the difference between low-income children and middle- and upper-income children?

What does "STEM" refer to?

Spatial training programs can decrease the gender difference in this area.

Ming-Na gets an A on a statistics exam. She believes it was due to luck. This would be an example of ______.

Marika is a high school junior who is contemplating taking an optional course in physics. The expectancy-value theory says that she will sign up for physics only if she ______.

Research supports the idea that women are underrepresented in areas where they experience more bias.

There is too much variability from one girl to the next to predict that an individual woman will not have adequate spatial ability. A far better indicator would be her score on a ______.

Engineering is an example of a challenging occupation that was formerly dominated by men but has been evening out with many more female professionals entering the field.

Based on the research on speed in the 50-yard dash, we can conclude that ______.

Medicine, veterinary medicine, and law are all examples of ______.

What does the research show regarding gender differences in mathematical ability? What is the stereotype regarding this topic? Analyze why the gender difference in math performance--or its absence--is so important and the implications of the stereotype.

Studies on gender differences in abilities and achievements indicate ______.

Meta-analysis research shows that girls earn better grades at all grade levels.

The experimental study done by Miyake et al. (2010) found that the values affirmation intervention was successful in reducing the gender gap in performance in a college physics class. Define "values affirmation intervention" (i.e., what idea is it based on?) and explain what this finding suggests (particularly about stereotype threat).

Luciana and Mateo are both in the STEM field and both have recently experienced setbacks in their jobs. Luciana is starts to think her setback means she is not cut out for this line of work, while Mateo believes his setback is mainly due to his recent lack of sleep due to having a new baby. This is an example of ______.

Monica received good grades in previous math and science courses and attributes her success to her hard work in the classes. She is hoping to go to medical school in the future. Based on the expectancy-value theory, Monica is not any more likely to sign up for difficult science courses in high school and college than her female peers.

Aiyana switched her career from business and marketing to sports medicine because she realized she wanted to work at a job that she loves and feels passionate about. What can we infer about Aiyana based on this belief?

Compare and contrast two of the explanations for the gender gap in STEM, or more accurately, CEP.

Research has consistently shown that there are no gender differences in general intelligence.

According to research on self-expressive value systems, women are found more often in engineering in ______ than they are in the United States and Canada.