Change in differences between the sexes in mathematics achievement at the lower secondary school level in Australia : over time.

In this paper an investigation is reported on whether changes have occurred in the differences between the sexes in mathematics achievement at the lower secondary school level over the 30 year period from 1964 to 1994. In order to make meaningful comparisons the mathematics test scores from the three studies conducted in Australia under the auspices of the International Association for Evaluation of Educational Achievement were brought to a common interval scale using Rasch measurement procedures. The scale scores are used to examine differences between boys and girls in mathematics achievement on the three occasions as well as the changes that have occurred between occasions. No significant sex differences in mathematics achievement are found on each of the occasions. However, a significant decline in mathematics achievement is recorded for boys between 1964 and 1994, but not for girls. The decline in mathematics achievement over this 30 year period for boys is equivalent to nearly one year of mathematics learning, while the drop for girls is only approximately equivalent to half a year of mathematics learning. [Author abstract