Generally, the levels of participation and achievement of females in science do not match those of male learners. This report describes the formation and study of an all-female section of calculus-based physics for the purpose of providing an environment that might enhance the participation and achievement of females in the physical sciences so…

Describes an inquiry into students' uses of graphics calculators in the Tertiary Entrance Examination of Calculus in Western Australia for 1998. Discusses a comparative analysis of boys' and girls' performances. Indicates that the main areas of difficulty for students are interpreting graphing calculator outputs and knowing when use of graphing…

This study was intended to determine whether sex-linked mathematics achievement and contextual differences persist into the university years. A random sample of 150 first-year mathematics students enrolled at a midwestern university was identified. A common 30-item calculus readiness test and a 37-item questionnaire, dealing with students'…

Investigated were the effects of spatial training on calculus achievement, spatial visualization ability, and the use of visualization in solving problems on solids of revolution. Sex differences were found favoring women in calculus achievement and men in spatial visualization ability. (MNS)

Discusses ways in which a mathematical pedagogy seminar can be an enlightening, engaging, and sometimes entertaining experience through which to bring together departmental colleagues and their students. Suggests logistics for such a seminar, 25 topics, and readings. Contains 64 references. (Author/ASK)

H. Wainer and L. Steinberg (1992) showed that within broad categories of first-year college mathematics courses (e.g., calculus), men had substantially higher average scores on the mathematics section of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT-M) than women who earned the same letter grade. However, Wainer and Steinberg's analysis may lead to…

This study examined how students with a minimum background of Calculus IV (n=17) differ from other college students (n=17) on personality traits as determined by the 16 PF, fifth edition. Significant differences were found on Factor A (Warmth), Factor B (Reasoning), Factor F (Liveliness) and Factor H (Social Boldness). Gender differences were also…

Despite scoring lower on the mathematics Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT-M) prior to taking an advanced placement calculus course, female students (n=85) scored as well as males (n=51) on the Advanced Placement BC level calculus test. Predictors of AP scores were: first, scores on the Calculus Readiness Test; second, scores on the SAT-M; and…

Investigates communication in a coeducational, undergraduate calculus class in order to develop an understanding of students' experiences at this stage in the science pipeline. Focuses on the filtering of females from the science pipeline. Contains 33 references. (DDR)

Presented are abstracts of 14 research reports. Topics covered include: (1) the effects of games on mathematics skills and concepts; (2) the use of problem-solving heuristics in the playing of games involving mathematics; (3) sex differences in electing mathematics; (4) the origins of sex differences in high school mathematics achievement and…

Advanced Placement Calculus examinations were administered to nearly 7,000 students in order to determine the impact of calculator use. Both experimental examinations had two sections. Section I items were designed so that a calculator was not needed, but approximately half of the students were permitted to use calculators. Section II items…

Abstracts of 12 mathematics education research reports and critical comments (by the abstractors) about the reports are provided in this issue of Investigations in Mathematics Education. The reports are: "More Precisely Defining and Measuring the Order-Irrelevance Principle" (Arthur Baroody); "Children's Relative Number Judgments:…

Reviews the findings from two international studies of mathematics achievement that have been conducted over the past 20 years. The majority of twelth-grade, college-bound American students scored among the lowest quarter of countries in the latest study. Includes tables and graphs. (MD)

Structural covariance models that would explain the correlations observed among mathematics achievement and participation measures and related cognitive and affective variables were developed. A sample of college calculus students (N=268; 124 females and 144 males) was administered a battery of cognitive tests (including measures of spatial-visual…

Discusses results of 2 examinations taken by 12th-grade students (n=13,522 for calculus; n=18,031 for statistics) in New Zealand. Males outscored females, significantly in statistics, and private school students outscored state school students. Some differences moderated when mathematics coursework was factored in. (Contains 32 references.)…