The Impasse on Gender Differences in Intelligence: a Meta-Analysis on WISC Batteries

Giofrè, D.; Allen, K.; Toffalini, E.; Caviola, S.

Abstract

This meta-analysis reviews 79 studies (N = 46,605) that examined the existence of gender difference on intelligence in school-aged children. To do so, we limited the literature search to works that assessed the construct of intelligence through the Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children (WISC) batteries, evaluating eventual gender differences in indices and subtests. The theoretical framework we adopted is the cross-battery approach which locates cognitive abilities into different levels, also considering the possible mediating effect of the version of the WISC being used. As for broad abilities, a notable discrepancy emerged in favour of males for visual and crystallized intelligence, while female/male differences on fluid intelligence were negligible. Conversely, females’ performance on the processing speed factor was superior. Interesting results emerged at the subtest levels, albeit with less pronounced differences in performance. Results generally showed that older versions of WISC batteries displayed larger gender differences compared to the most recent ones.

Citation

Giofrè, D., Allen, K., Toffalini, E., & Caviola, S. (2022). The Impasse on Gender Differences in Intelligence: a Meta-Analysis on WISC Batteries. Educational Psychology Review, 34(4), 2543-2568. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-022-09705-1

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 1, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Sep 22, 2022
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Deposit Date: Oct 27, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 22, 2023
• Journal: Educational Psychology Review
• Print ISSN: 1040-726X
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-336X
• Publisher: Springer
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 34
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 2543-2568
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-022-09705-1
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1187216