Confidence and gender differences on the Mental Rotations Test

Abstract

The present study examined the relation between self-reported confidence ratings, performance on the Mental Rotations Test (MRT), and guessing behavior on the MRT. Eighty undergraduate students (40 males, 40 females) completed the MRT while rating their confidence in the accuracy of their answers for each item. As expected, gender differences in favor of men were obtained. Results also indicated a positive correlation between confidence ratings and scores on the MRT, as well as negative correlations between confidence ratings and MRT outcomes presumed to reflect propensity to guess. More elaborate analyses using a measure of accuracy of predictions (the Brier score) indicated that men have a more accurate perception of their performance on the MRT than women do. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for the interpretation of gender differences and guessing behavior on the MRT.