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Gender-Based Differences on Standardized Test Scores and their Influence on Elective Course Selection. Greggory R. Schumaker Piedmont College, Pickens Cohort. Problem Statement.
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Gender-Based Differences on Standardized Test Scores and their Influence on Elective Course Selection Greggory R. Schumaker Piedmont College, Pickens Cohort
Problem Statement To determine what gender-based correlation exists between performance on required science standardized tests and elective course selection as students move through required and elective high school science courses.
Research Questions • How do female and male Biology and Chemistry standardized test scores compare? • What fractions of female vs. male students choose a ‘hard’ science as their elective in their junior and senior years?
Hypothesis Analysis of student test scores and course electives will show that girls perform better than boys in their biology course than in their chemistry course, thus girls tend to choose biology-based elective courses over “hard” science courses such as AP physics or AP computer science.
Methodology: Participants • Description and Selection • Male and female public high school students from Cherokee County, GA • Selected using convenience sampling method
Methodology: Participants • Sources of Data • Historical data housed in system-wide database • Data is anonymous, no student identifiers will be generated or utilized. • Data collected will be standardized test scores for freshman and sophomore science courses, gender and elective courses for junior and senior years.