RoundTable.

• 2010
• Nov
• 27

Writing Exercise Helps Female Physics Students

An Anonymous Reader figures we should link to a notable essay submitted on Scientific American. The article reads:

Back in April, 2009, this podcast covered research finding that a simple writing exercise helped minority students improve their grades. Now, a new study shows that the same exercise can help female college students overcome stereotypes about women in science and improve their performance. The work is in the journal Science . [Akira Miyake et al, Reducing the Gender Achievement Gap in College Science: A Classroom Study of Values Affirmation ]

Women in physics classes tend to do more poorly than men on exams. The researchers wanted to look at the role of psychological issues. They surveyed 399 students of both sexes in an intro physics class about whether they agreed with the stereotype that men are generally better at physics.

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