Male and Female Student Question-Asking Behavior in Elementary and Secondary Mathematics and Language Arts Classes

Abstract In this study we examined the types of questions male and female students at various grade levels asked in mathematics and language arts classes. Twelve observations were made in each classroom. Findings indicated that students in 1–12 grades asked similar numbers of questions in both language arts and mathematics. At all grade levels but the twelfth, students asked more questions in mathematics than in language arts. Students posed more explanation questions during mathematics instruction than during language arts instruction. At upper grade levels, males asked more questions in mathematics classrooms, and females asked more questions in language arts classes. The data suggest that in advanced secondary mathematics classrooms (ninth- and twelfth-grade classrooms), female students ask fewer questions than male students. Teachers were a significant factor in question asking: A standard deviation for all comparisons (gender, subject matter, grade level) was associated with large standard deviations...

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