SEX-DIFFERENCES IN THE APTITUDES AND TALENTS OF CHILDREN AS JUDGED BYPEERS AND TEACHERS

Over 40 different descriptions of aptitudes and talents were distribut ed among nine experimental peer nomination forms (PNF). These PNFs wer e administered to two large samples of elementary and junior high scho ol Pupils and to their teachers. Sex ratios were computed for each abi lity among those pupils who emerged as the 10% to 15% ablest in their group as independently judged by their peers and teachers. No less tha n 60% of the 42 items had a significant overrepresentation of girls (o r boys); these ratios exceeded 2:1 in a majority of cases. Boys were j udged to be more talented in physical aptitudes and technical talents, and girls were judged to be more talented in arts (especially music) and socioaffective aptitudes. Intercorrelations between data from six different samples showed a very high reproducibility of these sex rati os, regardless of whether the judges were peers or tear-hers or whethe r samples came from elementary or junior high schools. Various argumen ts are presented to demonstrate that these judgments by peers and teac hers accurately represent the differential abilities manifested by boy s and girls in the school environment.