Gender reality on multi-domains of school-age children in Taiwan: A developmental approach

Abstract

This study addresses developmental trends in gender reality for 6-17 year-old children (a total of 16,322 males and 15,412 females) in Taiwan. Typically, large, representative and normative data sets for 11 cognitive and affective tests were analyzed. Results revealed that gender differences in personality, interest, and learning styles were fairly stable across age levels. Cognitive advantages for each gender, however, varied with developmental phase. The hypothesis of "greater male variability" was supported in most domains. Consideration of compounded and accumulative effects may be crucial for explaining gender reality in outcome behaviors and career choices. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.