sborník

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN TESTS OF SPACE ABILITIES
comparison with variability in groups. This means that some females score
higher than most males and some males score lower than most females.
Another aspect to consider is that correlation quotient is influenced by the
measure of variability of the test score. Generally speaking, the more
homogeneous the tested group, the more narrow the range of the score and
the lower the correlation. This applies particularly to the group of university
students wher the factor of selection plays role in the progressive decrease
of correlation between the score in spatial skills tests and the sex.
More factors influence spatial orientational abilities [7]. External factors
include geographical and social environment and culture. Another important
factor is the intrauterine influence of sexual hormones on the development
of the brain structures (including the dominance of hemispheres). The
sexual hormones directly influence the development of the nervous
substrate which supports spatial skills. Their indirect influence follows from
preference of activities which are connected with spatial imagination and
which develop spatial imagination. Preference of these activities at an early
age can also be influenced by parents´ encouraging the engagement in a
particular activity associated with the particular sex.
Predominance of men or women in certain professions is not just a result
of the influence of socialization and environment but it has deeper genetic
roots. The differences between sexes in cognitive models which can be
easily observed are real and biologically determined. They are a result of
the selection process. Real life of course confronts us with complex tasks
which require combining our varied abilities and so the observed
differences in partial abilities are erased. In this sense we can speak about
the equality of sexes.
Acknowledgements
The paper was written with the financial support of VEGA 1/1407/04 grant.
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