Sex differences in mathematics vary by content domain, with male advantages for geometry (d = 0.218), broad mathematics (d = 0.145), computation (d = 0.089), and national tests (d = 0.068), but near-zero differences for advanced mathematics and basic numeracy¶
Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · quant-synthesisr?·q4
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person
Subclaims¶
Reading the evidence codes
q is the design tier, i the impact, n the sample, and the kind with its r
the rigour judged within that kind: what each code means.
This claim: no standardized effect is recorded in observations/ for it yet, so no benchmark reading is possible.
q4 i? In the full meta-regression model, significant male advantages emerged for broad mathematics, computation, geometry, and national tests, while effects for advanced mathematics and basic numeracy were close to zero. → Sara Caviola 2026
Evidence¶
Sara Caviola 2026¶
Sara Caviola, David Giofrè, Enrico Toffalini, Lorenzo Esposito, Irene Tonizzi, David C. Geary. (2026). Sex Differences in Mathematics: A Meta-analytic Review Across Content, Grades, and Geographic Regions. Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-026-10125-8
q4 · i? · quant-synthesis · r?
Meta-regression moderator analysis on 422 studies, 706 samples, and 1,175 effect sizes; the four moderators jointly explained R² = 0.176 of heterogeneity. The article reports the domain-specific estimated effects listed in the quote, with type of content a significant moderator (χ²(5) = 37.54, p < .001).
"Significant male advantages were found for Broad mathematics ( d = 0.145), Computation (d = 0.089), Geometry (d = 0.218), and National tests (d = 0.068). Effects for Advanced mathematics and Basic numeracy were close to zero."
Discussion¶
Learner Variables¶
- Gender — predictor: outcomes differ by group: a gap reflecting circumstances and treatment, not a cause
Related Claims¶
- The male advantage in geometry, broad mathematics, and computation increases across grades, reaching approximately d = 0.541, d = 0.255, and d = 0.207 by the end of secondary schooling, but grade slopes are flat for advanced mathematics, basic numeracy, and national tests — related
- No significant gender difference in word-problem performance on either formatted or unformatted test forms — related
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
claim |
id |
content-domain-moderation-sex-differences-mathematics |
title |
Sex differences in mathematics vary by content domain, with male advantages for geometry (d = 0.218), broad mathematics (d = 0.145), computation (d = 0.089), and national tests (d = 0.068), but near-zero differences for advanced mathematics and basic numeracy |
description |
Sex differences in mathematics vary by content domain, with male advantages for geometry (d = 0.218), broad mathematics (d = 0.145), computation (d = 0.089), and national tests (d = 0.068), but near-zero differences f... |
status |
review |
evidence_strength |
moderate |
newest_evidence |
2026 |
generated |
by process:wiki-ingest on 2026-10-21 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
1 — sara-caviola-2026 |
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