Tsigeman, Elina S.; Likhanov, Maxim V.; Budakova, Anna V.; Akmalov, Aydar; Sabitov, Ildar; Alenina, Evgeniia; Bartseva, Ksenia and Kovas, Yulia. 2023. Persistent gender differences in spatial ability, even in STEM experts. Heliyon, 9(4), e15247. ISSN 2405-8440 [Article]

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Abstract or Description

Background: Spatial ability (SA) shows wide variability. One proposed explanation for the observed individual difference in SA is variability in interest and engagement in activities that promote spatial ability. Research also robustly shown that males on average outperform females in most aspects of SA. Previous studies have identified a number of activities that can potentially contribute to both individual and gender differences in SA, including tinkering with electronics, particular sports activities, and designing. However, the findings regarding these links are inconsistent. One way to investigate these links is to compare the groups that are intensively engaged with these activities.

Aim: The present study aims to evaluate the robustness of these links by comparing SA in adolescents with expertise in STEM, arts, and sports, with their unselected peers. We also aimed to assess whether gender differences in SA are still present in expert groups.

Methods: The data on ten small-scale SA tests was collected in an unselected sample of adolescents (N = 864, Mean age = 15.4, SD = 1.1); as well as in 3 samples of adolescents with expertise in STEM (N = 667, Mean age = 15, SD = 1.2); in Arts (N = 280, Mean age = 15, SD = 1.2) and in Sports (N = 444, Mean age = 14.3, SD = 0.7).

Results: Out of the three expert groups, only STEM experts on average outperformed the unselected group on all SA tasks. The STEM experts also outperformed Arts and Sports experts. Gender differences persisted in all expert groups, with moderate effect sizes.

Discussion: Findings support previously established links between spatial ability and STEM-related expertise. In contrast, such links were not found for expertise in arts and sports. Consistent with previous research, we found gender differences in SA for all samples, which persisted in STEM experts.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15247
Additional Information:	This study was supported by the Tomsk State University Development Programme (Priority 2030).
Data Access Statement:	The authors do not have permission to share data.
Keywords:	Spatial ability, Spatial cognition, STEM education, Gender differences, Art and sport
Departments, Centres and Research Units:	Psychology
Dates:	Date Event 30 March 2023 Accepted 11 April 2023 Published
Item ID:	33377
Date Deposited:	17 Apr 2023 08:33
Last Modified:	17 Apr 2023 08:37
Peer Reviewed:	Yes, this version has been peer-reviewed.
URI:	https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/33377

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