Cognitive style predicts entry into physical sciences and humanities: Questionnaire and performance tests of empathy and systemizing |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Australia;2. Department of Psychology, The University of Chicago, IL, United States;3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, IL, United States;4. School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia;1. Smart Ageing International Research Center, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan;2. Division of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan;3. Department of Functional Brain Imaging, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan;4. Faculty of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan;1. Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA;2. School of Psychology, Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, CA, USA;3. Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge, UK;1. University of Durham, Durham, UK;2. University of Hawai''i, Honolulu, HI, USA |
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| Abstract: | It is often questioned as to why fewer women enter science. This study assesses whether a cognitive style characterized by systemizing being at a higher level than empathizing (S > E) is better than sex in predicating entry into the physical sciences compared to humanities. 415 students in both types of discipline (203 males, 212 females) were given questionnaire and performance measures of systemizing and empathy. 59.1% of the science students were male and 70.1% of the humanities students were female. There were significant sex differences on the Empathy Quotient (EQ) (females on average scoring higher) and on the Systemizing Quotient (SQ) (males on average scoring higher), confirming earlier studies. Scientists also scored higher on the SQ, and scored lower on the EQ, compared to those in the humanities. Thus, independent of sex, SQ was a significant predictor of entry into the physical sciences. Results from questionnaire data and performance data indicate an S > E profile for physical science students as a group, and an E > S profile for humanities students as a group, regardless of sex. We interpret this as evidence that whilst on average males show stronger systemizing and females show stronger empathizing, individuals with a strong systemizing drive are more likely to enter the physical sciences, irrespective of their sex. |
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