Error, Response Time and IQ: Sex Differences in Cognitive Style of Preschool Children

Abstract

Reflectivity-impulsivity in response to task uncertainty has been suggested as an important cognitive style. The present study investigated response time (a measure of reflectivity-impulsivity), errors on a matching-figures task, and intelligence in preschool children. The results indicate that there are important and significant sex differences in preschool children's cognitive style: boys' errors were significantly correlated only with their response speed, while girls' errors only with their intelligence. These results agree with similar sex differences as observed in studies using older children. sex differences. Paper presented at the Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Developmenr, New York, March, 1967. KAGAN, J. Reflection-impulsivity and reading ability in primary grade children. Child Develpm., 1965, 36, 609-628. KAGAN, J., & LEWIS, M. Studies of attention in the human infant. MerrilGPalmer Quarterly, 1965, 11,95-127. KAGAN, J., ROSMAN, B. L., DAY, D., ALBERT, J., & PHILLIPS, W. Information processing in the child: significance of analytic and reflective attitudes. Psychol. Monogr., 1964, 78, No. 1 (Whole No. 578). Acceped March 5, 1968.

Conceptual Tempo and Inhibition of Movement in Black Preschool Children

“…This accords with the postulated developmental trend for this dimension. The preschool sample used by Lewis, Rausch, Goldberg, and Dodd (1968) had lower error (mean = about 13) and faster time scores (about 3.8 seconds) than ours. However, their version of the MFF was much simpler, and their children were brighter.…”

Field Dependence/Independence, Impulsivity/Reflectivity, Gender, and Cloze Test Performance of Iranian EFL Learners: A Study of Relations

“…It was found that females were more reflective than males who were more impulsive. This confirmsfindings of Lewis, Rausch, Goldberg, and Dodd (1968), and Lewis (1971). However, it is in contrast with Messer's (1976) findings.…”

“…Reflectivity or reflective style is the tendency tospend a comparably long time for making a decision or finding an answer to a problem, sometimes to consider all possibilities before making a decision. Lewis, Rausch, Goldberg, and Dodd (1968) concluded that boys were more impulsive than girls, and that their errors significantly correlated with their response speed. In a similar study by Lewis (1971) the same results were obtained.…”

Cognitive Styles: A Review of the Literature.

“…l 0h~) T her e ap p e a r s to be l i t t l e or no d i f f e r e n c e w i t h regard t o qender on the MFF , although studies reporting these data are not consistent or conclusive (Harrison & Nadelma n , 1972; Ka qan , lQ6 6 a ; Lewis , Rousch , Goldberg, & Dodd , 1971). When sex-linked differences were reported , it seems that girls may be somewhat more r e fl e ct i~~e than boys (Messer , 1976).…”