Study On Gender Differences Of Visuospatial Ability Of Chemical Learning In Senior High School

Gender is one of the most important factors which influences individual cognitive level, and visuospatial ability has been regarded as a cognitive one which has the most significant gender differences.This research has a long history, and many scholars has studied the gender differences of visuospatial ability in mathematics learning. However,there is no any research about chemical learning in China.This study explored senior high school students'gender differences in visuospatial ability in chemical learning. A total of 541 students of grade three in Chongqing's five middle schools participated in this study, which included 312 boys and 229 girls. The survey method was a questionnaire, which was designed by ourselves based upon the relative researches. SPSS for windows11.5 was adopted in the data analyse.The results indicated the following: (1) As a whole, there is significant gender difference in chemical study, for boy's visuospatial ability is superior to girl's . (2) In three factors tests of spatial perception, spatial relation and spatial visualization, boys do better than girls in spatial visualization test, and girls do better than boys in spatial relation.(3) In processing speed, boy is faster than girl in spatial relation factor.To sum up, this dissertation gives some advices for chemical teaching and learning. Firstly, it is necessary for teachers and students to establish a correct conception on gender differences. Secondly, some teaching activities should be carried out aiming at the gender differences in visuospatial ability of chemistry. Finally, teachers should take some measures to improve students'chemical spatial abilities.