Perspective changing in primary and secondary learning: A gender difference study

In the present study, we investigated the ability of 106 (55 males, 51 females) college students to recall an 8-step path from different viewpoints (0°; 90°; 180° and 270°) after primary and secondary learning without a time limit. For each participant, we computed the time and number of repetitions necessary to learn the path as well as his/her spatial style (landmark, route and survey) using the “Questionnaire on Spatial Representation” (Pazzaglia & De Beni, 2001). We found gender differences in secondary but not in primary learning. Our results support the hypothesis that gender differences emerge only in adverse learning conditions requiring strong spatial ability. Moreover, we observed that computing an individual learning time as well as the specific number of repetitions necessary to learn the environment reduced markedly the presence of individual differences, stressing the importance of the expertise effect in the environmental learning.

Research Highlights
► Computing individual learning time reduces the presence of gender differences.
► Gender differences emerged in secondary but not in primary learning.
► Gender differences emerge in learning conditions requiring strong spatial ability.
► Results stress the importance of the expertise effect in the environmental learning.
► Environmental demands and cognitive processes modulate sex differences in navigation.