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(U-WIRE) RALEIGH, N.C. -- Two University of Vancouver-Canada psychologists released the results of a recent study attempting to determine if comments saying that women are genetically predisposed to be less talented than men when it comes to math and sciences may actually affect women's mathematical performance, according to CNN.com.
"Our study doesn't explore whether innate sex differences exist," Ilan Dar-Nimrod, one of the psychologists, said in the story. "[We] investigated how the perceived source of stereotypes can influence women's math performance."
According to Bart Craig, North Carolina State University psychology professor, those stereotypes can affect people.
"We are less motivated if we don't think we can succeed," Craig said.
To conduct this study, Dar-Nimrod and Steve Heine, the other psychologist, randomly assigned more than 120 women to four groups, giving each group a different test. The tests included two math sections separated by a reading comprehension essay, as reported in an October issue of the journal Science.
The first essay claimed women scored lower on math than men because of genetic differences between the two sexes. The second used experiences as the main reason. The third test's essay mentioned gender differences but did not mention mathematical ability. The last essay said no difference in mathematical ability existed between men and women.
The women who read about genetic factors playing a part scored the lowest on the test, according to the Science article. Those women who took the test containing the essay that argued experience was the affecting factor did considerably better and as well as women who were told gender differences were nonexistent who scored the highest.
Heine explained the duo's study results implied women will believe genetics play a role in their abilities if they are told so.
"The findings suggest that people tend to accept genetic explanations as if they're more powerful or irrevocable, which can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies," Heine told CNN.
This research shows stereotypes can, in fact, affect women's scores, according to CNN.
Craig said one explanation for these findings is the idea of self-efficacy.
"If you tell people 'you're not going to be good at this,' they're going to be less likely to give it a try," Craig said.
Both Heine and Craig mentioned stereotype threat as a possible reason for the study's findings.
Craig said the idea of stereotype threat "works by increasing stress" created from the task.
The Science article also notes that science and mathematics professors should be very vigilant of their bias toward males because women may be turned off from majors in math and science because of their unequal treatment.
Laura Bruschi, a senior in engineering, said she believes professors favor males over females in the classroom.
"[T]hat doesn't necessarily work against us though, Bruschi, said. "They think we aren't smart and don't know what we're talking about."
"All girls are not smarter than guys in math -- this is just accepted whether or not it's true," Bruschi said. "Here, I feel that all girls are corralled into CHASS majors and girls just let themselves be led."
Craig said the study's results should not let women change their plans for their futures.
"The bottom line is there is no reason to think that encouraging women to pursue science is pointless," Craig said.
(C) 2006 Technician via U-WIRE
