Gender differences in academic attitudes among gifted elementary school students

A number of studies have documented gender differences in the academic attitudes of gifted adolescents, but few studies have investigated these differences among students younger than age 12. Very few studies explore the age at which the differences emerge. The present study investigated four questions: Are gender differences in attitudes toward academic subjects evident among gifted 3rd through 6th graders? Do the students' attitudes toward school subjects vary according to grade level? Do gender differences become more or less pronounced from 3rd to 6th grade? Are attitudes reward academic areas related to students' ability in those areas? To address these questions, 2,089 gifted 3rd- through 6th-grade children rated their Liking for II academic areas. Observed gender differences were consistent with those found in research with older students participating in talent-search programs. Grade-level differences suggest that attitudes toward several academic areas become more negative with age. Attitudes were not related to rested academic ability.