Cognitive style predicts entry into physical sciences and humanities: Questionnaire and performance tests of empathy and systemizing - Billington, J., Baron-Cohen, S., and Wheelwright, S. (2007)
Females outnumber males on university psychology courses by 2 to 1. This alone is enough to make some boys choose the subject! But why should some courses be 'more female' or 'more male'? Billington et al suggest that it is due to essential differences between the brain functions of the genders, due to a preference for either empathizing or systemizing.
The original study can be read here.
A two part summary and evaluation is here and here. Also, this BBC article contains useful background information and allows you to take an empathizer/systemiser test. Test your knowledge with this quizlet. |
Big Issue - PsychometricsWe have already met psychometric testing in Thigpen and Cleckley's study. In Billington et al's study, psychometric tests are used to quantitatively measure 'cognitive style' through the scores on the empathizing and systemizing questionnaires.
Links to other evaluation issues The evaluations of psychometric tests are a good way of showing the links between different areas of psychology, which you should already know. For example:
|
|
Assignment 1 - Alternative study - Billington et al. as a quasi-experiment?Billington et al used questionnaires to discover students' cognitive styles and then compared these to their choice of degree subject. An alternative way to investigate the effect of cognitive styles on preference for subjects would be to use a quasi experiment.
1. Describe the quasi-experiment as a research method in Psychology. (5) 2. How could they have performed a study with similar aims, but as a quasi-experiment? Write a description of the study, including the who, what, where and how. (10) 3. What would the advantages and disadvantages of such an experiment be, compared to the original? Evaluate this new study in ethical and methodological terms. (10) Submit your alternative study and evaluation through the form on the home page. |
Take the tests...These are the tests which Billington's participants were given to determine their 'brain type'. Take them and then work out your own cognitive style...
|
RevisionRevision Assignment - Create a Billington et al revision podcast or videoPodcasts are a great way to revise, and by making them yourself you are interacting with the material twice, so it will be twice as effective! Podcasts are easy to make using itunes, or there are other options here. If you prefer, you can upload a video to YouTube.
Email me the link of your podcast/video. The best ones will be embedded in the website... like Sajid and Bazilah's 'powtoon' below! |
ExtensionCognitive styles - a dangerous and sexist theory?
Is Billington et al's idea of cognitive styles likely to deter females from taking science and maths subjects at university? This article thinks that it might. The video below also disagrees that male and female brains are different... what do you think? |