The Science Around Male Brains vs. Female Brains

[Chris]

Stossel presents the arguments of Professor Gina Rippon, who argues there's no significant biological/neurological difference between males and female brains, and evolutionary psychologist Diana Fleischman who says there's overwhelming evidence of biological differences.

[texan]

[Adelaide]

So, Rippon sort of said something that made me wonder about her. When asked why a third of female babies play with tractor parts, rather than two-thirds like the male babies, she said that a larger sample size would potentially explain it. That's actually not the case unless the study she cited has a very small sample group or a very biased sample group ("biased" as in the stats term). If that's the case, and the sample is small or biased, it wouldn't be considered valid/reliable for her purposes and it would likely be reflected in the statistical analysis. Since there is no link to the study and I do not own the book, I guess I cannot figure out the sample size and whether the central limit theorem is relevant.

At any rate, both are right and both are wrong, but no one can really say conclusively with 100% confidence. Likely, hormones and neurotransmitters may be the greatest biological influence (and genetics) and then socialization sort of seals the deal on a lot of behaviors and attitudes. Hormones may explain why male students would be more likely to show an interest in an aggressive sport than a female, for example.

[Captdon]

So, Rippon sort of said something that made me wonder about her. When asked why a third of female babies play with tractor parts, rather than two-thirds like the male babies, she said that a larger sample size would potentially explain it. That's actually not the case unless the study she cited has a very small sample group or a very biased sample group ("biased" as in the stats term). If that's the case, and the sample is small or biased, it wouldn't be considered valid/reliable for her purposes and it would likely be reflected in the statistical analysis. Since there is no link to the study and I do not own the book, I guess I cannot figure out the sample size and whether the central limit theorem is relevant.

At any rate, both are right and both are wrong, but no one can really say conclusively with 100% confidence. Likely, hormones and neurotransmitters may be the greatest biological influence (and genetics) and then socialization sort of seals the deal on a lot of behaviors and attitudes. Hormones may explain why male students would be more likely to show an interest in an aggressive sport than a female, for example.

I have doubts about tractor parts. I have doubts any kid knows what tractor parts are.