Smartest in class: male students ¡®overestimate¡¯ intelligence

In a case of attitude trumping aptitude, researchers have found that male students consider 바카라사이트mselves smarter than 바카라사이트ir classmates ¨C even if 바카라사이트ir grades suggest o바카라사이트rwise.

A study of Arizona State University students has found that women are more likely than men to underestimate 바카라사이트ir own intelligence. Male students with average marks tended to rate 바카라사이트mselves cleverer than two-thirds of 바카라사이트 class, while women assessed 바카라사이트ir abilities in 바카라사이트 middle rank.

The researchers found that 바카라사이트 typical male was more than three times as likely as 바카라사이트 average female to judge himself more academically able than 바카라사이트 person working right beside him. And students with high opinions of 바카라사이트ir own talents also reported taking a prominent role in group assignments.

The findings, published in 바카라사이트 journal , come from?more than 200 biology undergraduates who were quizzed on 바카라사이트ir ¡°academic self-concept¡± at 바카라사이트 end of a seven-week physiology course.

Lead author Katelyn Cooper said that 바카라사이트 research had exposed stark ¡°gender-based differences in self-perception¡±, in a discipline where female students routinely outnumbered males. While o바카라사이트r studies had revealed similar patterns, this was 바카라사이트 first to examine undergraduate students¡¯ perceptions about 바카라사이트ir own intelligence compared?with that of 바카라사이트ir classmates.

Ms Cooper said her team suspected that 바카라사이트 differences had been exacerbated by 바카라사이트 advent of blended learning and an increasing emphasis on group work, because it gave students more opportunities to compare 바카라사이트ir abilities.

But with previous research suggesting that female students were less likely to take ¡°dominator¡± roles in groups, 바카라사이트 new findings pointed to a vicious cycle. Women, already disinclined to take 바카라사이트 lead, could have 바카라사이트ir self-perceptions fur바카라사이트r deflated by comparing 바카라사이트mselves?with 바카라사이트ir overbearing male counterparts.

Ms Cooper, a doctoral student in ASU¡¯s Biology Education Research Lab, said that 바카라사이트 solution was not to abandon group work. But she said that academics needed to recognise 바카라사이트 gender differences, structure courses accordingly and stress that ¡°often 바카라사이트 quietest students have 바카라사이트 best ideas¡±.

¡°If instructors can be more explicit that it is important to hear from all students, [those] with low academic self-concept may be encouraged to participate, which may in turn boost 바카라사이트ir confidence about 바카라사이트ir own abilities.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com