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Sex Differences in Mechanical Aptitude: an Investigation of Sex Differences in Mechanical Aptitude and Its Relation to Nonverbal Abilities Karolina E

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Sex Differences in Mechanical Aptitude: an Investigation of Sex Differences in Mechanical Aptitude and Its Relation to Nonverbal Abilities Karolina E University of North Florida UNF Digital Commons All Volumes (2001-2008) The sprO ey Journal of Ideas and Inquiry 2001 Sex Differences in Mechanical Aptitude: An Investigation of Sex Differences in Mechanical Aptitude and Its Relation to Nonverbal Abilities Karolina E. Christensson Ringby University of North Florida Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unf.edu/ojii_volumes Part of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Suggested Citation Ringby, Karolina E. Christensson, "Sex Differences in Mechanical Aptitude: An Investigation of Sex Differences in Mechanical Aptitude and Its Relation to Nonverbal Abilities" (2001). All Volumes (2001-2008). 132. http://digitalcommons.unf.edu/ojii_volumes/132 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the The sprO ey Journal of Ideas and Inquiry at UNF Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Volumes (2001-2008) by an authorized administrator of UNF Digital Commons. For more information, please contact Digital Projects. © 2001 All Rights Reserved Sex Differences in based on a smaller sample than originally planned. Mechanical Aptitude: An Little research has been conducted Investigation of Sex examining the basis for the reported sex differences in mechanical aptitude. Differences in Mechanical Mechanical aptitude tests are used Aptitude and Its Relation to extensively in selection procedures for Nonverbal Abilities mechanical jobs. A study investigating the validity of two of these measures and Karolina E. Christens son Ringby the differential performance of each sex group on them is quite timely because Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Susana Urbina, more women are seeking employment in Professor of Psychology areas that require mechanical abilities. Abstract Introduction This study investigates sex differences The empirical literature suggests that in mechanical abilities. Numerous the construct of general intelligence, or the research findings support the existence of "g factor," encompasses a wide spectrum of sex differences in mechanical aptitude as learned and innate human behavior and well as in other abilities. Recent research functioning made up of factors such as suggests that there is a relationship cognitive abilities, personal variables, and between mechanical aptitude and certain experience, as well as musical and nonverbal reasoning (e.g., visual-spatial) mechanical aptitudes (Anastasi and Urbina, abilities. Due to the possible links 1997). The g. or general, factor originally between these constructs, sex differences identified by Spearman, is placed by Vernon in a nonverbal measure of general at the top of the hierarchy of cognitive intellectual functioning, made up of five abilities followed by specific abilities such subtests, were also evaluated. Thus, the as mechanical knowledge, spatial ability, purpose of this study is twofold: to verbal ability and quantitative ability investigate sex differences in mechanical (Vernon, 1950). The g factor has proved to aptitude and nonverbal abilities, and to be useful in predicting criteria of job explore the construct validity of all the performance as well as performance in measures employed. academic settings. Females and males were compared in Although the g factor is very useful, terms of their performance on two there are a number of situations in which it mechanical aptitude tests and one test of is desirable to learn about an individual's nonverbal abilities. It was expected that, profile of strengths and weaknesses in on average, men would do better on both intellectual abilities, for example, in of the mechanical aptitude tests. The vocational counseling. Therefore, we must construct validity of all the measures was also look at performance levels in abilities investigated by correlating the scores on that are narrower than g. such as mechanical the various instruments and by aptitude. According to Bennett (1994), comparing the results obtained with the mechanical aptitude "may be regarded as expectations suggested by the empirical one aspect of intelligence, if intelligence is literature on sex differences. Thus far, all broadly defined" (p. 8). However, tests the major hypotheses have been developed to assess general intelligence confirmed. However, these results are typically do not provide information on a person's standing in mechanical aptitude. Osprey Journal of Ideas and Inquiry 53 There is a need for specialized instruments, BMCT assesses the constructs of such as mechanical aptitude tests, that mechanical information, spatial measure specific clusters of abilities visualization, and mechanical reasoning pertaining to certain tasks or occupations. (Tippins, 1991). Although mechanical aptitude is related to Recently, a new test of mechanical general intelligence, it also comprises a aptitude, the Wiesen Test of Mechanical complex yet relatively independent set of Aptitude (WTMA), was developed with the abilities. Wiesen (1999) suggests that intention of creating a fairer measure for mechanical aptitude is "a function of general women than the traditional measures used in intelligence, spatial ability, interest, and this area, such as the BMCT. Although mechanical knowledge" (p.3). Mechanical males still outperform females on the aptitude tests measure a set of complex WTMA, the male advantage is not as great cognitive abilities whose central components as on the BMCT (Chapman, 1998; Wiesen, are spatial abilities, mechanical reasoning 1999). and information, as well as perceptual In spite of these well-documented sex discrimination (Anastasi and Urbina, 1997). differences on mechanical aptitude tests, Related to individual performance little research has been conducted examining levels in cognitive abilities, and of equal the basis for sex differences on these importance, is the issue of individual and measures. Since more and more women are group differences in cognitive functioning. seeking employment within fields that Sex differences in cognitive abilities are one involve mechanical ability and since such difference of interest. Whereas there is mechanical aptitude tests are used no evidence of a sex difference in general extensively in selection for such jobs, it is intelligence, sex differences have been important to investigate and to better observed in broad cognitive abilities. For understand the reasons for sex differences in example, Halpern (1992) identifies verbal, various available measures of mechanical quantitative, and visual-spatial ability as the aptitude. The increasing number of women "main loci of sex differences" (p.64). Males seeking employment in mechanical excel in certain quantitative tasks and on occupations also underscores the need for most visual-spatial tasks. Females tend to valid and fair predictors of job performance have better verbal skills and outscore males in this field. on certain tests of quantitative abilities with The purpose of this study is twofold: to verbal components. In addition to the investigate the construct validity of all the documented sex differences in these broad measures employed by means of cognitive abilities, research shows that correlational analyses, and to investigate sex females and males also differ in specific differences in abilities by comparing the abilities, including some that have been performance of males and females on implicated in performance on mechanical mechanical aptitude and on a nonverbal test tasks, such as spatial abilities and perceptual of general intelligence. An exploration of speed (Hedges and Nowell, 1995; Hegarty the interrelationships among some of these and Sims, 1994). abilities by means of the newly revised Beta Studies of sex differences in mechanical III (Kellogg & Morton, 1999) should clarify aptitude have consistently favored males. the basis for the sex differences in For example, research comparing females mechanical ability. The following and males on the Bennett Mechanical hypotheses are postulated: Comprehension Test (BMCT), one of the oldest and most widely used instruments in (1) Men will perform significantly its field, typically indicates that males better than women on the BMCT and outperform females by a wide and WTMA. significant margin (e.g., Fortson, 1991). The 54 Osprey Journal of Ideas and Inquiry (2) Differences between the mean Procedure scores of females and males will be greater The subjects were tested in groups of on the BMCT than on the WTMA. no fewer than two and no more than eight people. Testing sessions lasted for (3) The correlation between the BMCT approximately two hours, with variations in and the WTMA will be statistically length depending on the number of subjects. significant for females and males as well as The three tests were administered to each for the total group. group of subjects in one session, with a 15- minute break in the middle. In the first half (4) The correlation between the Beta III of the session, subjects were asked to read and the two mechanical aptitude tests will be and sign the informed consent and had an smaller than the correlation between the opportunity to ask questions. After this WTMA and the BMCT. informal question and answer session, subjects were asked to fill out the demographic information sheet. Finally, the Methods Beta III was administered. The two mechanical aptitude tests were administered Participants in counterbalanced order, during the second The sample was composed primarily of half of the testing session, after a IS-minute white college students enrolled in various break. Eighteen females
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