Error, Response Time and IQ: Sex Differences in Cognitive Style of Preschool Children

Abstract

Reflectivity-impulsivity in response to task uncertainty has been suggested as an important cognitive style. The present study investigated response time (a measure of reflectivity-impulsivity), errors on a matching-figures task, and intelligence in preschool children. The results indicate that there are important and significant sex differences in preschool children's cognitive style: boys' errors were significantly correlated only with their response speed, while girls' errors only with their intelligence. These results agree with similar sex differences as observed in studies using older children.