Gender Differences Towards Self-efficacy and Academic Performance

Review of related literature is an objective, critical summary of published research literature relevant to a topic under consideration for research. The review of literature creates familiarity with current thinking and research on the gender differences towards self – efficacy and academic performance on Pre – Calculus and may justify future research into a previously overlooked or understudied area.

Introduction to Gender Differences in Mathematics

According to Oakes (1990) and Parson et al, (1982) the overall research delving gender differences in Mathematics self-efficacy based on gender role type has been bounded. There are some leads that the generalization of parents about student's performance in Mathematics is varied based on gender. Andre et al, (1999) and Choi (2004) cited that there is also a lead that gender role type is connected with scholastic self-efficacy, nevertheless, the research catechizing concrete diversity in Mathematics self-efficacy is vacuous on gender role type and gender type socialization. Analyzing differences in terms of gender type socialization and gender role type is another focus of this topic.

The Impact of Gender Stereotypes on Performance

According to Nosek, Banaji, & Greenwald (2002), when women thinks that math is for men, this cause them to have a negative impact on their attitudes in dealing mathematics and their performance because of this thinking women tend to less motivation to work on mathematics, which will lead to have a low academic performance. On the other hand, if women refrain themselves in this kind of thinking, they are more likely to have high self – efficacy and high academic performance (Schmader, Johns, & Barquissau, 2004).

Learning Experiences in STEM Disciplines

Recent studies show learning experiences among females in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) disciplines are impacted by a pattern of socialization that often differs from Male despite comparable ability (American Association of University of Women 1992; National Association of Educational Progress [NAEP] 2007; National Educational Longitudinal Survey [NELS] 2004. An Analysis of National data and independent research studies from 1960's through 1980's concluded that the gender differences in Mathematics achievement depends on several demographic characteristics (Linn & Peterson, 1986).

Gender Differences in Problem-Solving Abilities

These findings may be combined with advantages in problem-solving found among males (Hyde et al., 1990). Performance of the students in Mathematics is linked to opportunities to enroll in different types of Mathematics courses in college (United States Department of Education, 2007). A substantial body of research confirms higher verbal ability in mathematical abilities is normally achieving males (Vogel, 1990). Overtime results reveal senior high school, both male and female are taking mathematics courses by the time of graduation, including more upper level such as Pre-Calculus (Ingels et al., 2008).

Connections Between Attitudes and Performance

Fennema et al., (1998), Maccoby & Jacklin, (1974), Shibley-Hyde, Fennema & Lamon, (1990) show that there are many cases reported about differences in mathematics performance connected to gender. These differences are presume to be exactly related to the attitude differences towards mathematics. Viewing mathematics as a field for male, attitude towards success in mathematics and its usefulness, males hold the higher scores as what (Fennema & Sherman, 1977) found out. Since this report came, similar cases about gender differences in attitude towards mathematics have been reported.

The Importance of Gender as a Variable

Though researchers tend to were cognizant of the intensive coverage that gender variations in Pre - Calculus accomplishment and attitudes and beliefs regarding mathematics have received within the academic literature, researchers have a tendency to fail to begin the study at the start expecting to find the gender variations. However, researchers tend to educate the categories using an MMM, it became apparent that a lot of males were exhibiting resistance to strategy and scarcity of participation, whereas a lot of the females in the categories cane prepared with assignments and volunteered to come out on an everyday basis. As participation could be a key element of success in an exceedingly student-focused learning environment, researchers have the tendency to set that they should always involve gender as a variable in the investigation.

Future Directions for Research

At the time of the study, researchers were aware of no literature reporting on gender differences in inquiry - based undergraduate mathematics, but after having completed the study, a report was released concerning a large scale investigation of inquiry - based learning (IBL) conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder in collaboration with three other universities.