Are Sex Differences Important for Complex Spatial Tasks?
Date
2002
Authors
Bunch, Rick
Lloyd, Robert
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Grosvenor Center for Geographic Education
Abstract
This study investigates sex-related differences on a cognitive task that required the recall and comparison of states. Reaction time, accuracy, and efficiency were considered in a computer game where participants uncovered two states in a spatial array and determined whether they matched. The preliminary task results suggested males were more familiar with state shapes and locations than females. This increased familiarity with the locations of states on maps, however, did not translate to an advantage on the main experiment where the results appeared to be more related to the nature of the task than the cognitive processing differences between sexes.
Description
Keywords
sex, spatial abilities, memory, rotation, geographic education
Citation
Bunch, R. L. (2002). Are sex differences important for complex spatial tasks?. Research in Geographic Education, 4(1), pp. 43-62.