Gender-Based Performance in Mathematical Facts and Calculations in Two Elementary School Samples From Chile and Spain: An Exploratory Study
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Pina Paredes, VioletaEditorial
Frontiers Media SA
Materia
Gender differences Primary education Mathematical fluency Calculation Children
Date
2021-08-17Referencia bibliográfica
Pina V, Martella D, Chacón-Moscoso S, Saracostti M and Fenollar-Cortés J (2021) Gender-Based Performance in Mathematical Facts and Calculations in Two Elementary School Samples From Chile and Spain: An Exploratory Study. Front. Psychol. 12:703580. [doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.703580]
Sponsorship
Chilean national project Fondecyt ID1181472; Anid/Fondecyt Regular ID1210172; Comision Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica (CONICYT) CONICYT FONDECYT 1190945; Fellowship for residencies abroad of young researchers from Mare Nostrum; ERDF Andalusia Operational Program 2014-2020, government of Andalusia, Spain US-1263096; VI Own Research and Transfer Plan (VIPPITUS), Universidad de Sevilla, Spain VIPP PRECOMPETI 2020/1333Abstract
Gender differences in mathematical performance are not conclusive according to the scientific literature, although such differences are supported by international studies such as the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). According to TIMSS 2019, fourth-grade male students outperformed female students in Spanish-speaking countries, among others. This work approaches the study on gender difference by examining the basic calculation skills needed to handle more complex problems. Two international samples of second and third graders from Chile and Spain were selected for this exploratory study. Tests on basic mathematical knowledge (symbolic and non-symbolic magnitude comparisons, fluency, and calculation) were administered. The tests did not show significant difference or size effect between genders for mean performance, variance in the distribution of performance, or percentiles. As noted in the existing literature on this topic and reiterated by these findings, great care should be exercised when reporting on possible gender differences in mathematical performance, as these can contribute to low self-concept among female students.