Gender Differences in Preschoolers' Understanding of the Concept of Life

Autor/inn/en	Schroeder, Meadow; Graham, Susan A.; McKeough, Anne; Stock, Hayli; Palmer, Jaime
Titel	Gender Differences in Preschoolers' Understanding of the Concept of Life
Quelle	In: Journal of Early Childhood Research, 8 (2010) 3, S.227-238 (12 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1476-718X
DOI	10.1177/1476718X10366766
Schlagwörter	Females; Gender Differences; North Americans; Preschool Children; Age Differences; Science Education; Biology; Thinking Skills; Academic Achievement; Child Development; Evaluation Methods + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Weibliches Geschlecht; Geschlechterkonflikt; Pre-school age; Preschool age; Child; Children; Pre-school education; Preschool education; Vorschulalter; Kind; Kinder; Vorschulkind; Vorschulkinder; Vorschulerziehung; Vorschule; Age; Difference; Age difference; Altersunterschied; Naturwissenschaftliche Bildung; Biologie; Denkfähigkeit; Schulleistung; Kindesentwicklung
Abstract	This study investigated gender differences in North American preschoolers' biological reasoning about the concept of "life". Four-year-olds (M = 4.6, SD = 3.3 months) and five-year-olds (M = 5.6, SD = 3.8 months) were asked about the function of 13 body parts, organs, and bodily processes. Results indicated that the likelihood of mentioning the importance of body parts, organs, and bodily processes for maintaining life or preventing death was predicted by age. A concept of life was more likely to occur in boys rather than girls. Although boys had a greater understanding of life they did not outperform girls in their responses to organ/ body part function. The results demonstrate that gender differences in biological reasoning emerge during the preschool years. Implications for early science education are discussed. (Contains 3 tables.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10