Can stereotype threat explain the gender gap in mathematics performance and achievement?

Men and women score similarly in most areas of mathematics, but a gap favoring men is consistently found at the high end of performance. One explanation for this gap, stereotype threat, was first proposed by Spencer, Steele, and Quinn (1999) and has received much attention. We discuss merits and shortcomings of this study and review replication attempts. Only 55% of the articles with experimental designs that could have replicated the original results did so. But half of these were confounded by statistical adjustment of preexisting mathematics exam scores.

Bias, StereotypesBrigitte BellanFebruary 24, 2018Claude Steele, Stereotypes, Bias, Stanford University, Stereotype Threats, University of Stanford