Sex Differences in Mental Test Scores, Variability, and Numbers of High-Scoring Individuals
Abstract
Sex differences in central tendency, variability, and numbers of high scores on mental tests have been extensively studied. Research has not always seemed to yield consistent results, partly because most studies have not used representative samples of national populations. An analysis of mental test scores from six studies that used national probability samples provided evidence that although average sex differences have been generally small and stable over time, the test scores of males consistently have larger variance. Except in tests of reading comprehension, perceptual speed, and associative memory, males typically outnumber females substantially among high-scoring individuals.
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Hedges and Nowell argued that the strongest scientific evidence about gender differences comes from larger studies based on representative samples of populations, not small convenience samples.
“They argued that the strongest scientific evidence about gender differences does not come from small studies of convenience samples, but instead comes from larger studies based on representative samples of populations.”
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- Authors
- Hedges, L. V., & Nowell, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Chicago (US)
- ORCID
- Hedges, Larry V.
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 1995-07-07
- Volume
- 269
- Issue
- 5220
- Pages
- 41-45
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2170104643
- Cited by
- 1,112
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 39 · 2021: 43 · 2020: 109 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 43 · 2017: 39 · 2016: 45 · 2015: 38 · 2014: 49 · 2013: 53 · 2012: 56
- FWCI
- 51.87
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Education, Achievement, and Giftedness
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Intergenerational and Educational Inequality Studies
- Keywords
- sex differences, test score variability, measures of central tendency, reading comprehension, perceptual speed, associative memory, gender differences in intelligence
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Aptitude, Data Interpretation, Statistical, Female, Humans, Intelligence Tests, Male, Mathematics, Probability, Reading, Science, Sex Characteristics, United States, Writing
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