Jim Liebelt Christian Blog and Commentary

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Girls Do Better Than Boys in All School Subjects

A recent study published in the journal Psychological Bulletin (American Psychological Association) found that girls perform better than boys in all school subjects, and have done so for almost a century. The study was conducted by psychology professors Daniel and Susan Voyer from the University of New Brunswick.

Their findings were based on examining research from 308 previous studies conducted in more than 30 countries from 1914 through 2011.

While girls outpaced boys in all subject matter, their largest advantage was in language subjects. Girls held their smallest advantage over boys in math and science subjects. In math and science courses, the female advantage did not appear until middle school. Overall, girls performed better than boys academically from elementary school until middle school, while boys closed the gap between high school and college.

In this study, research was not conducted as to the cause of the gender differences, but the study's authors speculate that social and cultural factors play a part.

In a recent article for The Atlantic, author Enrico Gnaulati, a clinical psychologist, investigates the question of why boys perform at lower levels academically across the board, and suggests that "These days, the whole school experience seems to play right into most girls strengths—and most boys' weaknesses." To read Gnaulati's article, click here.

Source: American Psychological Association
http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/04/girls-grades.aspx