At the highest level, this dissertation is a case study on how bias can become encoded into the tools used to measure a construct and into the very definition of the construct itself. In this case, the construct is spatial ability. This dissertation focuses on the validity and accuracy of spatial tests and illuminates gender bias that is…

Research has shown sex differences in performance favoring males are likely to be reported on cognitive tasks requiring spatial skills. It has also been suggested that the reason why individuals who describe themselves as masculine also tend to do well on spatial tasks may be a function of activity preference. To examine the relationship among…