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Are there sex differences in problem solving? an investigation of problem context and sex role type

Publication ,  Journal Article
Beckham, JC; Carbonell, JL; Gustafson, DJ
Published in: Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied
January 1, 1988

In this study we investigated sex differences, the effects of problem context, and subject sex-role type on subject's problem-solving ability. The 160 subjects (80 men and 80 women) were students from introductory psychology classes. They were chosen so that each of the four sex-role types, as measured by the Bern Sex Role Inventory (Bern, 1974), were equally represented in the male and female groups. All subjects were administered 18 analytical insight problems, varying in gender context. Subjects' Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores on math were used as a covariate. There was no significant effect for sex or sex-role type and no interaction of sex and sex-role type with context of problem. There was a main effect for context of problem, F(2, 302) = 11. 16, p <.01. Subjects of both sexes performed better on masculine-context problems, but problem-solving performance was not affected by sex or sex-role type. Mathematical aptitude seemed to be the most important factor in problem-solving performance. © 1988 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied

DOI

EISSN

1940-1019

ISSN

0022-3980

Publication Date

January 1, 1988

Volume

122

Issue

1

Start / End Page

21 / 32

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Beckham, J. C., Carbonell, J. L., & Gustafson, D. J. (1988). Are there sex differences in problem solving? an investigation of problem context and sex role type. Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied, 122(1), 21–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.1988.10542939
Beckham, J. C., J. L. Carbonell, and D. J. Gustafson. “Are there sex differences in problem solving? an investigation of problem context and sex role type.” Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied 122, no. 1 (January 1, 1988): 21–32. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.1988.10542939.
Beckham JC, Carbonell JL, Gustafson DJ. Are there sex differences in problem solving? an investigation of problem context and sex role type. Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied. 1988 Jan 1;122(1):21–32.
Beckham, J. C., et al. “Are there sex differences in problem solving? an investigation of problem context and sex role type.” Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied, vol. 122, no. 1, Jan. 1988, pp. 21–32. Scopus, doi:10.1080/00223980.1988.10542939.
Beckham JC, Carbonell JL, Gustafson DJ. Are there sex differences in problem solving? an investigation of problem context and sex role type. Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied. 1988 Jan 1;122(1):21–32.

Published In

Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied

DOI

EISSN

1940-1019

ISSN

0022-3980

Publication Date

January 1, 1988

Volume

122

Issue

1

Start / End Page

21 / 32

Related Subject Headings

  • Social Psychology
  • 1702 Cognitive Sciences
  • 1701 Psychology