1506 – Gender differences in working memory among kuwaiti children

Abstract

The ability to maintain relevant information mentally while performing complex cognitive tasks, e.g. decision making, reading comprehension, and problem solving, memorizing a poem or even driving a car is conceptualized as Working Memory (WM), which became a workspace to general mental functioning. Nevertheless, as to yet, this topic is relatively ignored in literature in the Arab World. The aim of the current investigation was to explore gender related differences in WM performance among Kuwaiti children. The participants were 200 Kuwaiti pupils living in Farwaniyah governorate. The participants aged 128.76 ±6.75 months (100 girls aged 128.76 ±6.75 months and 100 boys aged 128.76 ±6.75 months. Moreover, the participants were identical in age, economic level and school grade. All participants in the two groups were compared on how they performed in the Automated Working Memory Assessment (AWMA), a computerized instrument developed by Alloway (2007). Independent Sample t Test was used to examine gender differences in WM performance. The mean score for visuospatial WM boys and girls samples (13.95±4.43) and (9.23 ±4.07) respectively. It was significantly lower in girls (t=7.85, p< .001). Also, the mean score for verbal WM boys and girls samples (15.75±4.01) and (10.94 ±5.12) respectively. It was significantly lower in girls (t=7.40, p< .001). Gender differences in working memory capacity exist. Results showed that gender contributed to the variations in WM resources, which were efficient among the Kuwaiti children. This warrants further investigation.