Sex differences in the mental functioning of school children

Abstract

These groups of boys and girls, compared on the basis of mean IQ's, do not differ reliably in general intelligence as measured by these particular scales as a whole: the Otis Test, the Army Individual Performance Test, and the Army Beta Test. The boys and girls show only a negligible difference in reactions at each age level on the three scales, but when a difference is present it is usually in favor of the boys. There is no evidence of earlier maturing of girls. There is a reliable difference on specific items of the performance scales, the boys being superior with the mazes, ship, cube analysis, picture completion and geometrical construction. There is an indication of superiority of the girls with the digit-symbol, number-checking and X-O tests. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)