Gender differences in fluid intelligence (gF) on the WISC are negligible, and newer fluid-reasoning subtests show no difference or favour females¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · quant-synthesis r3 · q3
Currency · newest study 2022 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? The pooled gF effect slightly favours males but is negligible (d = 0.09); with newer WISC versions it is virtually zero (d = 0.05). → D. Giofrè · K. Allen · E. Toffalini · S. Caviola 2022 q3 i? Matrix reasoning, the subtest with the highest loading on fluid intelligence, shows a virtually zero effect favouring females (d = -0.04). → D. Giofrè · K. Allen · E. Toffalini · S. Caviola 2022 (2)

Evidence¶

D. Giofrè · K. Allen · E. Toffalini · S. Caviola 2022¶

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

q3 · i? · quant-synthesis · r3

Meta-analysis of 21 studies (32 samples) for the gF factor. The pooled effect was "significant, but negligible"; the estimate from new WISC versions alone was d = 0.05, described as virtually zero.

"The estimated mean effect size was significant, but negligible, with slightly higher scores in males than in females, d = 0.09 [0.04, 0.15], p < 0.001."

D. Giofrè · K. Allen · E. Toffalini · S. Caviola 2022 (2)¶

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

q3 · i? · quant-synthesis · r3

Subtest-level meta-analysis (Table 2) of the Matrix reasoning subtest across 5 studies; the article notes newer fluid-intelligence tasks showed either no differences (Picture concepts) or differences favouring females.

"As far as Matrix reasoning is concerned, a subtest tapping heavily on core aspects of fluid reasoning, and very similar to Raven's matrices, the effect, favouring females, is virtually zero: d = -0.04 [-0.10, 0.02]."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Males show a statistically significant but practically negligible advantage on WISC Full-Scale IQ (d = 0.09), which becomes non-significant with newer WISC versions — related
• Gender differences on WISC subtests and factors are generally smaller or unchanged with newer WISC versions, never larger — a broader claim this one bears on
• Gender differences on WISC working memory (gSM) are negligible and not statistically significant — related
• The focus of attention factor was the only significant predictor of both fluid reasoning and visual processing intelligence when all three working memory factors were entered — related
• Females outperform males on WISC processing speed (gS) with a medium advantage (d = -0.37), larger for Coding than Symbol search — related