Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Gender and confidence in mathematical ability

A new study of 14 year old Swedish high school students has found that whereas boys are overconfident, girls are actually underconfident regarding their mathematics performance. The students were asked what grade they thought they would get in a mathematics test a week later. The results were then compared with their actual grade.

I might try this out with my second year economics undergraduates next semester.

Dahlbom, L et al (2011) Gender and overconfidence: are girls really overconfident?
Applied Economics Letters Volume 18, Issue 4, Pages 325 - 327.
http://www.informaworld.com/10.1080/13504851003670668