Production Number C673 Sex Differences in Dynamic Spatial Ability: The Unsolved Question of Performance Factors

Males and females differ in several cognitive abilities, although the largest gap can be found in spatial ability. Some published studies claim that “performance factors”, which can be either subject- or task- related variables, explain these differences. However, previous studies measuring performance factors have focused on static spatial tests. Little is known about the role of performance factors in dynamic spatial tasks. The present study analyzes a sample of 2,624 university graduates to test the role of three performance factors (response latency, response frequency, and invested time) derived from the Spatial Orientation Dynamic Test-Revised (SODT-R). The results showed that males and females appear to cope with the dynamic task in different ways. However, males outperformed females even when the effects of the performance factors were partialled out; that is, the assessed performance factors did not explain much of the sex-related variance. Alternative ways of measuring performance factors will be needed if they are to explain sex differences in dynamic spatial ability