Gender differences in children's wayfinding

Figures & data

Figure 1. The same area shown on three different maps: (a) symbolic plan map (above angle), (b) a pictorial map (above angle) and (c) a pictorial map (oblique angle).

Figure 2. The pictorial map that was used by the children in present study, with seven plotted controls marked with pink circles and one starting point marked with a triangle.

Figure 3. The pictorial map showing the start point marked with a triangle and the 22 controls that was marked with white and orange flags and units for registration in the area. The pink circles are the 7 controls that were marked on the children's maps and for them to find. The 15 blue circles were only marked in the terrain, but not on the children's map.

Table 1. Description of the sample of children selected for inclusion in the study.

	Age	Boys		Girls		Total
		n	%	n	%	n	%
Group A (kindergarten)	3–5 years old	19	19.6	22	22.7	41	42.3
Group B (lower primary stage)	5–9 years old	16	16.5	13	13.4	29	29.9
Group C (upper primary stage)	9–13 years old	14	14.4	13	13.4	27	27.8
Total		49	50.5	48	49.5	97	100.0

Table 2. Overall results divided into groups and gender.

	Between groups (group A/ group B/ group C)		Between gender (boys/ girls)
Average number of controls found (max:7)	5.38/ 6.45/ 6.93	p < 0.01	6.25/6.04	NS
Percentage of children who found all 7 controls (percent)	41/ 72/ 93	p < 0.01	69/62	NS
Average time spent finding all 7 controls (seconds)	929/ 619/ 310	p < 0.01	532/622	p < 0.05

Note: Significant differences are marked with NS (not significant), (p < 0.10), (p < 0.05) and p < 0.01), based on f-test for metric variables.

Table 3. Average number of correct controls found (maximum score is 7 controls).

	Group A (kindergarten)		Group B (lower primary stage)		Group C (upper primary stage)
Boys	5.74	NS	6.25	P < 0.10	6.93
	0.255		0.281		0.959
Girls	5.14	P < 0.01	6.69	NS	6.92

Note: Significant differences are marked with NS (not significant), (P < 0.10), (P < 0.05) and (P < 0.01), based on t-test for metric variables (significance levels between groups in ‘between group columns’, significance levels between gender in ‘between gender rows’).

Table 4. Percentage of children who completed the task successfully (found all 7 controls).

	Group A (kindergarten)		Group B (lower primary stage)		Group C (upper primary stage)
Boys	50%	NS	69%	P < 0.10	93%
	NS		NS		NS
Girls	33%	P < 0.05	77%	NS	92%

Note: Significant differences are marked with NS (not significant), (P < 0.10), (P < 0.05) and (P < 0.01), based on t-test for metric variables (significance levels between groups in ‘between group columns’, significance levels between gender in ‘between gender rows’).

Table 5. Average time (in seconds) spent on the task for children who completed the task successfully (found all 7 controls).

	Group A (kindergarten)		Group B (lower primary stage)		Group C (upper primary stage)
Boys	835	P < 0.05	582	P < 0.01	280
	P < 0.05		NS		NS
Girls	1049	P < 0.01	659	P < 0.01	342

Note: Significant differences are marked with NS (not significant), (P < 0.10), (P < 0.05) and (P < 0.01), based on t-test for metric variables (significance levels between groups in ‘between group columns’, significance levels between gender in ‘between gender rows’).