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Sex differences in ability tilt in the right tail of cognitive abilities: A 35-year examination

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  • Wai, Jonathan
  • Hodges, Jaret
  • Makel, Matthew C.

Abstract

Sex differences in cognitive ability level and cognitive ability pattern or tilt (e.g., math > verbal) have been linked to educational and occupational outcomes in STEM and other fields. The present study examines cognitive ability tilt across the last 35 years in 2,053,265 academically talented students in the U.S. (SAT, ACT, EXPLORE) and 7119 students in India (ASSET) who were in the top 5% of cognitive ability, populations that largely feed high level STEM and other occupations. Across all measures and samples, sex differences in ability tilt were uncovered, favoring males for math > verbal and favoring females for verbal > math. As ability tilt increased, sex differences in ability tilt appeared to increase. Additionally, sex differences in tilt increased as ability selectivity increased. Broadly, sex differences in ability tilt remained fairly stable over time, were consistent across most measures, and replicated across the U.S. and India. Such trends should be carefully monitored given their potential to impact future workforce trends.

Suggested Citation

  • Wai, Jonathan & Hodges, Jaret & Makel, Matthew C., 2018. "Sex differences in ability tilt in the right tail of cognitive abilities: A 35-year examination," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 76-83.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:intell:v:67:y:2018:i:c:p:76-83
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2018.02.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cheryl Leggon & Connie L. McNeely & Jungwon Yoon, 2015. "Advancing Women in Science: Policies for Progress," Springer Books, in: Willie Pearson, Jr. & Lisa M. Frehill & Connie L. McNeely (ed.), Advancing Women in Science, edition 127, chapter 0, pages 307-340, Springer.
    2. Coyle, Thomas R., 2018. "Non-g residuals of group factors predict ability tilt, college majors, and jobs: A non-g nexus," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 19-25.
    3. Lisa M. Frehill & Connie L. McNeely & Willie Pearson, 2015. "An International Perspective on Advancing Women in Science," Springer Books, in: Willie Pearson, Jr. & Lisa M. Frehill & Connie L. McNeely (ed.), Advancing Women in Science, edition 127, chapter 0, pages 1-6, Springer.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Stern, Charlotta & Madison, Guy, 2022. "Sex differences and occupational choice Theorizing for policy informed by behavioral science✰," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 694-702.
    3. Dunkel, Curtis S. & Madison, Guy, 2022. "The possible role of field independence/dependence on developmental sex differences in general intelligence," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    4. Li, Dai & Wang, Yizhen & Li, Lantian, 2023. "Educational choice has greater effects on sex ratios of college STEM majors than has the greater male variance in general intelligence (g)," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    5. Oberleiter, Sandra & Fries, Jonathan & Schock, Laura S. & Steininger, Benedikt & Pietschnig, Jakob, 2023. "Predicting cross-national sex differences in large-scale assessments of students' reading literacy, mathematics, and science achievement: Evidence from PIRLS and TIMSS," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    6. Zullo, Matteo, 2022. "(No) Trade-off between numeracy and verbal reasoning development: PISA evidence from Italy's academic tracking," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    7. Coyle, Thomas R., 2023. "Sex differences in tech tilt and academic tilt in adolescence: Processing speed mediates age-tilt relations," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    8. Coyle, Thomas R., 2021. "White-Black differences in tech tilt: Support for Spearman's law and investment theories," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    9. Geary, David C., 2022. "Spatial ability as a distinct domain of human cognition: An evolutionary perspective," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    10. Loehlin, John C., 2019. "Cognitive clustering—How general?," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 19-22.

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