title: Spatial ability mediates the gender difference in middle school students' science performance.
abstract: Prior research has demonstrated a male advantage in spatial skills and science achievement. The present research integrated these findings by testing the potential role of spatial skills in gender differences in the science performance of eighth-grade students (13-15 years old). In (N = 113), the findings showed that mental rotation ability mediated gender differences in physical science and technology/engineering test scores. In (N = 73,245), science performance was examined in a state population of eighth-grade students. As in , the results revealed larger gender differences on items that showed higher correlations with mental rotation. These findings underscore the importance of considering spatial training interventions aimed at reducing gender differences in the science performance of school-aged children.
authors.affiliation: Florida State University.
authors.forename: Colleen M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ganley
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vasilyeva
authors.forename: Alana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dulaney
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012586:Science / Q000193:education*; D012737:Sex Factors; D065854:Spatial Navigation / Q000502:physiology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis