Comments on: Viva No Difference! http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/2008/07/25/viva-no-difference/ Closing the Achievement Gap: Teaching Content Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:51:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: KDeRosa http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/2008/07/25/viva-no-difference/#comment-4364 KDeRosa Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:10:27 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=696#comment-4364 This study has been wildy misreported. The study found (i.e., confirmed once again) that males have a greater variance in mathematical ability. From Project Talent, the variance was 1.2 (mae/female ratio) and also the male mean was 0.12 sd higher. From these numbers alone we can predict the upper bound of females in any field requiring high levels of mathematic ability. At the 95th percentile, we'd expect to see 64% male, 36% female. This might be a representation of females in engineering or science fields that are math heavy. At the 99th percentile, the pecentage of females drops to 21%. At the National Academy of Sciences and Putnam fellow levels (+4.7 sd and + 4.9 sd respectively, the percentage of females drops to 17%. At the Fields medal level (+ 5.8 sd), the percentage of females drops to 1%. See <a href="http://www.lagriffedulion.f2s.com/math.htm" rel="nofollow">here</a> for a full explanation. This study has been wildy misreported. The study found (i.e., confirmed once again) that males have a greater variance in mathematical ability.

From Project Talent, the variance was 1.2 (mae/female ratio) and also the male mean was 0.12 sd higher.

From these numbers alone we can predict the upper bound of females in any field requiring high levels of mathematic ability.

At the 95th percentile, we’d expect to see 64% male, 36% female. This might be a representation of females in engineering or science fields that are math heavy.

At the 99th percentile, the pecentage of females drops to 21%.

At the National Academy of Sciences and Putnam fellow levels (+4.7 sd and + 4.9 sd respectively, the percentage of females drops to 17%.

At the Fields medal level (+ 5.8 sd), the percentage of females drops to 1%.

See here for a full explanation.

]]> By: rory http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/2008/07/25/viva-no-difference/#comment-4359 rory Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:25:59 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=696#comment-4359 Jim scored a 97, Bob scored a 76, Dan scored a 45. Jane scored a 81, Barb scoed a 78, Dana scored a 66. Who is better at math, the boys or the girls? Which gender has the worse performer? Which gender has the top performer? Jim scored a 97, Bob scored a 76, Dan scored a 45.

Jane scored a 81, Barb scoed a 78, Dana scored a 66.

Who is better at math, the boys or the girls?

Which gender has the worse performer?

Which gender has the top performer?

]]> By: Rachel http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/2008/07/25/viva-no-difference/#comment-4358 Rachel Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:13:02 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=696#comment-4358 I find the evidence that the "tails" of the male math-ability distribution are wider than those of the female distribution more compelling than most other arguments about sex/gender ability differences - and that could explain the differences in dearth of women Fields Medal and Putnam winners. But there's a long, long, long way between Algebra II in high school and the Fields medal. And one thing that's rarely noted when the "wider tails" argument is brought up, is that even with wider tails, you still expect just as many females as males to be "above average," and in any test that most students take, you would expect the average scores to be very similar for males and females. I find the evidence that the “tails” of the male math-ability distribution are wider than those of the female distribution more compelling than most other arguments about sex/gender ability differences - and that could explain the differences in dearth of women Fields Medal and Putnam winners. But there’s a long, long, long way between Algebra II in high school and the Fields medal.

And one thing that’s rarely noted when the “wider tails” argument is brought up, is that even with wider tails, you still expect just as many females as males to be “above average,” and in any test that most students take, you would expect the average scores to be very similar for males and females.

]]> By: KDeRosa http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/2008/07/25/viva-no-difference/#comment-4355 KDeRosa Sat, 26 Jul 2008 13:05:42 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=696#comment-4355 So what explains the paucity of female winners of Fields Medals and Putnam challenges? Discrimination? So what explains the paucity of female winners of Fields Medals and Putnam challenges? Discrimination?

]]> By: Rachel http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/2008/07/25/viva-no-difference/#comment-4351 Rachel Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:21:51 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=696#comment-4351 I always liked this take on Summers' statements: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/03/02/grading_larry_summers/ I always liked this take on Summers’ statements:

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/03/02/grading_larry_summers/

]]> By: Robert Pondiscio http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/2008/07/25/viva-no-difference/#comment-4346 Robert Pondiscio Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:22:15 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=696#comment-4346 Bullying?? My goodness. A pretty mild and simple jape by my (or anyone's really) standards. Anyone who IS interested in Summers controversial remarks can read what he said. The one thing I can say with accuracy and without fear of contriction is that it amounts to many hundreds of words more than "differences in males and females should be researched." http://www.president.harvard.edu/speeches/2005/nber.html Bullying?? My goodness. A pretty mild and simple jape by my (or anyone’s really) standards. Anyone who IS interested in Summers controversial remarks can read what he said. The one thing I can say with accuracy and without fear of contriction is that it amounts to many hundreds of words more than “differences in males and females should be researched.”

http://www.president.harvard.edu/speeches/2005/nber.html

]]> By: Dennis Ashendorf http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/2008/07/25/viva-no-difference/#comment-4345 Dennis Ashendorf Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:47:34 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=696#comment-4345 Mr. Pondiscio please stop joining the chorus in criticizing Dr. Summers whenever you want to hit a punching bag. All he said was that differences in males and females should be researched. Wow, what a concept. In the hyper-politically-correct venue of academia, this is off limits, unless discrimination against a group is the research. You know this. You should realize that attacking people, who do not deserve to be attacked, is despicable. It's bullying for fun. Shame on you. You merely gave an unprovoked ad hominen attack on someone who cannot defend himself. This is inappropriate on a "Core Knowledge" blog, stick to MoveOn. Mr. Pondiscio please stop joining the chorus in criticizing Dr. Summers whenever you want to hit a punching bag. All he said was that differences in males and females should be researched. Wow, what a concept. In the hyper-politically-correct venue of academia, this is off limits, unless discrimination against a group is the research. You know this. You should realize that attacking people, who do not deserve to be attacked, is despicable. It’s bullying for fun. Shame on you. You merely gave an unprovoked ad hominen attack on someone who cannot defend himself. This is inappropriate on a “Core Knowledge” blog, stick to MoveOn.

]]>