Are Boys More Creative than Girls? -Based on the Scientific Creativity of Gifted Students-

남학생은 여학생보다 창의적인가? - 영재들의 과학 창의성을 중심으로 -

  • Shin, Ji-Eun (Department of Earth Science, Seoul National University) ;
  • Jung, Hyun-Chul (Department of Earth Science, Seoul National University) ;
  • Choe, Seung-Urn (Department of Earth Science, Seoul National University) ;
  • Han, Ki-Soon (Department of Education, University of Incheon)
  • 신지은 (서울대학교 지구과학교육과) ;
  • 정현철 (서울대학교 지구과학교육과) ;
  • 최승언 (서울대학교 지구과학교육과) ;
  • 한기순 (인천대학교 교육학과)
  • Published : 2002.04.30

Abstract

Recent studies have indicated that boys show better scientific achievements compared to those of girls. It is also a general conception that boys would be better than girls in terms of scientific creative performances and potential, although there have been few studies to support the general opinion. As the gifted education in Korea is progressing very rapidly, the importance of understanding the creative characteristics of gifted boys and girls has been increased. In the present study, we have compared and analyzed three different measures of creativity utilizing 135 gifted students (77 boys and 58 girls) to provide an empirical evidence for the different degrees of creative performances between gifted boys and girls. The instruments used to measure diverse aspects of creativity include the Torrance Test of Creativity (TTCT), the Test of Creative Problem-solving and Finding in Science (CPFS), and the Creative Behavioral Checklist in Science(CBCS). The results of the study indicate that girls, rather than boys, showed better creative performances, demonstrating moderately higher average scores on the three creative measures used in the study. The results are in contrast to people's general conception that boys would be more creative than girls. Implications of the study in connection with identification and educational practices for gifted education program have been discussed.

최근의 연구들은 과학영역에서 남학생이 여학생에 비해 훨씬 더 높은 학업 성취도를 보인다고 주장하고, 과학영역에서의 창의성 측면에서도 남학생이 여학생에 비해 더 높은 창의적 성취를 보일 것이라는 것이 일반적인 통념이다. 과학영재교육이 본격화되고 남${\cdot}$여 과학영재들의 창의적 특성에 대한 이해의 중요성이 부각되고 있지만, 이를 뒷받침할 연구들은 거의 부재한 상황이다. 본 연구에서는 135명의 과학영재학생들을 대상으로 창의성의 다양한 영역에서, 특히 확산적 사고라는 영역 보편적 입장과 과학에서의 창의적 행동특성과 문제해결 및 발견이라는 영역 특수적 입장에서, 남학생과 여학생간의 창의성의 차이를 살피고 창의성의 본성에 대한 이해를 돕고자 했다. 본 연구의 결과는 과학 영재여학생들이 남학생들에 비해 모든 영역에서 유의미하게 큰 차이를 보이지는 않았지만, 전반적으로 창의성의 세 영역 모두에서 상대적으로 높은 성취를 보이는 것으로 나타났다. 구체적으로 살펴보면 확산적 사고의 융통성, 제목의 추상성, 정교성 영역에서, 과학에서의 창의적 문제 해결력 및 문제 발견력을 측정하는 CPSF의 가설 설정 능력의 유창성과 독창성 영역에서, 그리고 과학에서의 창의적 행동 특성을 측정하는 CBCS에서 개방성, 심미안에서 과학 영재 여학생이 남학생보다 유의미하게 창의성이 높은 것으로 나타났다. 남학생은 여학생에 비해 CBCS에서의 '과학적 호기심' 문항에서만 유의미하게 더 높은 창의성 점수를 보임으로 본 연구 결과는 '남학생이 여학생보다 더 창의적이다'라는 사회의 일반적인 통념과 상반된 결과를 보였다.

Keywords

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