Examining the Gender Gap in High School Students' Political Knowledge: An IRTree Application

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 14
  In Poster Session: Division D Section 1 Poster Session 1

Abstract

Public education prepares students for citizenship in a democratic society, with experiences inside and outside the classroom promoting development of civic and political knowledge. However, previous research has found a significant gender gap in political knowledge, with men frequently demonstrating higher levels of political knowledge than women. Using IRTree models, this study examined whether a gender gap existed in the political knowledge of high school seniors, and to what extent such disparities reflected meaningful differences between genders. Findings indicated that while a gender gap does exist, it can be explained in part by differences in adolescent male and female survey response styles. Implications for the treatment of respondent ability and response style as separate latent traits are discussed.

Author

• Christa Elisa Winkler, Mississippi State University