An investigation of differences in verbal ability and mathematical ability among talented male and female high school students

Introduction. Discovering and meeting talented youth are fascinating and enlightening experiences. Since interest in talented youth has increased over the past few years, methods of identification and programs for the talented have been developed and implemented in various areas and school districts in the country. Purpose of the Study. This study focused upon youth talented in the performing and visual arts, and investigated the variables of gender, verbal ability, and mathematical ability. The three null hypotheses tested were as follows: 1. Performing arts students are indistinguishable from visual arts students in terms of gender, verbal ability, and mathematical ability. 2. There are no distinguishable differences between male and female performing and visual arts students in terms of verbal ability and mathematical ability. 3. Male and female students are indistinguishable in terms of performing and visual arts membership, verbal ability, and mathematical ability. Procedures. Subjects were 98 tenth grade students: 56 performing arts students - 26 male, 30 female; and 42 visual arts students - 22 male, 20 female. Only female performing arts students were randomly selected. Due to low numbers, all visual arts students and male performing arts students were used. The clientele was basically middle socioeconomic range with ethnic breakdown of 70% Anglo, 20% Black, and 10% Mexican-American. In November, 1981, these students were administered the Verbal Reasoning (Verbal Ability) and Numerical Ability (Mathematical Ability) subtests of the Differential Aptitude Tests. Raw scores were collected and analyzed using discriminant analysis significant at the p<.05 level. Results Findings were as follows: 1. Gender, verbal ability, and mathematical ability were non-significant predictors of performing and visual arts membership. 2. Verbal ability and mathematical ability were non-significant predictors of male and female performing and visual arts membership. 3. Performing and visual arts, verbal ability, and mathematical ability were non-significant predictors of gender membership. Conclusions. The study found that students talented in the performing and visual arts were a homogeneous group, i.e., they did not differ significantly in terms of gender, verbal ability, and mathematical ability. The study also found that students talented in the performing and visual arts were talented in verbal and mathematical abilities as well.