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Re: MentorNet (one woman's response)



Try going to ERIC
http://umperg.physics.umass.edu/projects/MindsOnPhysics/MOPSamples/ and
typing in women spatial ability

Here are a couple of hits:
ERIC_NO: ED119854
TITLE: Interaction of Experiential and Neurological Factors in the
Patterning of Human Abilities: The Question of Sex Differences in 'Right
Hemisphere' Skills.
AUTHOR: Harris, Lauren Jay
PUBLICATION_DATE: 1975
ABSTRACT: Sex differences in cerebral organization and functioning, and the
apparent superiority of males in spatial ability are examined in this paper.
Attention is given to several kinds of cognitive and perceptual tasks in
which sex differences in spatial ability have been shown to exist; among
these are tasks involving: (1) recall and detection of shapes, (2) geometry
and mathematics, (3) directional sense, (4) Piagetian skills and (5) the
game of chess. A neurological model for sex differences in spatial ability
is discussed, which suggests that some brains are further specialized
(lateralized) for spatial analysis than others, and that these "further
specialized" brains are more frequently male than female. Medical research
with war veterans who have suffered brain injuries, data from anatomical and
clinical studies and results of testing of normal individuals are cited to
suggest that the left hemisphere of the brain seems primarily organized for
verbal function, the right hemisphere for visual-spatial functions. An
alternative model for sex differences in spatial ability suggests that women
prefer to code information phonologically (due to their earlier language
development) and that men prefer to code information visually. Data are
presented which support this view. The possibilities of evolutionary
selection for male spatial superiority and the effects of sex steroid
hormones on brain specialization and nervous system activity are considered.
(BRT)
MAJOR_DESCRIPTORS: Cognitive Processes; Lateral Dominance; Neurological
Organization; Perceptual Development; Sex Differences; Spatial Ability;

ERIC_NO: EJ633516
TITLE: A Course in Spatial Visualization and Its Impact on the Retention of
Female Engineering Students.
AUTHOR: Sorby, Sheryl A.
PUBLICATION_DATE: 2001
JOURNAL_CITATION: Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and
Engineering; v7 n2 p153-72 2001
ABSTRACT: Explains the importance of spatial visualization skills in
engineering and women's lack of 3-D spatial skills. Introduces a special
course designed to enhance 3-D spatial skills as they relate to the
retention and overall success of female engineering students. (Contains 25
references.) (Author/YDS)
MAJOR_DESCRIPTORS: Engineering Education; Females; School Holding Power;
Spatial Ability;

As to structural differences some can be observed in certain types of scans
or by staining and slicing brains. The inplication of the differences is
unknown. I do not have a good reference here as I read the article a long
while ago.

The right/left brain business has certainly been overanalyzed in pop.
psychology. While it is known that certain abilities are located on one
side of the other, and that this is disturbed in some LD students, it is
quite clear that both sides are needed by physicists. The right side is
needed for spatial ability, and the left to communicate the insights.

There is an article that shows that women function equally as well as men
once they are given training to help them develop better spatial ability.
Of course the difference between men and women is not all or none and there
are some women who outperform most men, and some men who have none at all.
Without digging for the exact results I recall it was more like 60 40 than
70 30. As to why the there is a difference, it is highly likely that it is
due to childhood experiences as it can be overcome.

Then there are the mostly female Navaho weavers who remember complex
patterns and produce perfectly balanced patterns even though the other half
of the reflected pattern is no longer visible.

John M. Clement
Houston, TX

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Speaking of references, there are a lot of "facts" used to debate
women-in-science issues that bear closer examination. I know of NO
controlled studies with statistically significant results that support the
following:

a. Women are worse at tasks requiring spatial thinking abilities than men.
b. Spatial thinking skills can't be acquired through practice.
c. Superior spatial thinking abilities are necessary in order to become
scientists or mathematicians.
d. Women's brains are structurally different than men's.
e. There is a significant difference in the structure of scientist brains
vs. non-scientist brains.
f. Larger brains = more intelligence.
g. Scientists/mathematicians use one side of their brain (left brain/right
brain) more than the other side.
h. Women use the opposite side of their brain (left brain/right
brain) from
that used by most scientists/mathematicians.

As scientists, we are aware of mistakes caused by faulty assumptions.
Therefore, one must examine all assumptions carefully. Does
anyone have any
references to controlled scientific studies with statistically
significant
outcomes showing or disproving any of the points (a) through (h) above?

Just asking....

Also, in these debates, beware of all-too-frequent comparisons between the
set of all women with the set of male scientists. Strangely, I have never
seen the set of female scientists compared to the set of all males.

Vickie Frohne
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