Sex differences in general knowledge

A general information or knowledge test, which was shown to measure 19 domains of general knowledge, six first-order factors and one second-order general factor, was constructed. Data obtained from 469 female and 167 male undergraduates were tested for sex differences using Student's t and Hote...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Intelligence (Norwood) 2002-01, Vol.30 (1), p.27-39
Main Authors: Lynn, Richard, Irwing, Paul, Cammock, Thomas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Cognition. Intelligence
Cognitive Tests
Common sense
Demographic aspects
Differences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gender
Gender differences
General knowledge
Higher Education
Intellect
Intellectual and cognitive abilities
Intelligence
Intelligence levels
Intelligence tests
Interests
Knowledge
Knowledge Level
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Sex Differences
Sex differences (Psychology)
Sexes
Structural equation models
Structural equations modeling
Undergraduate Students
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Summary:A general information or knowledge test, which was shown to measure 19 domains of general knowledge, six first-order factors and one second-order general factor, was constructed. Data obtained from 469 female and 167 male undergraduates were tested for sex differences using Student's t and Hotelling's multivariate t. It was found that males obtained significantly higher means than females on the second-order general factor and on four of the six first-order factors identified as information about Current Affairs, Physical Health and Recreation, Arts and Science. Females obtained a significantly higher mean than males on the first-order factor identified as Family. There was no sex difference on the remaining first-order factor identified as Fashion. The results confirm the findings in a number of standardisation samples of the Wechsler tests that males obtain higher average scores than females on the Information subtests and that this is not attributable to a bias in favor of males on these tests.
ISSN:0160-2896
1873-7935
DOI:10.1016/S0160-2896(01)00064-2