A Meta-Analysis of Sex Differences in Physical Ability: Revised Estimates and Strategies for Reducing Differences in Selection Contexts

Despite the wide use of physical ability tests for selection and placement decisions in physically demanding occupations, research has suggested that there are substantial male-female differences on the scores of such tests, contributing to adverse impact. In this study, we present updated, revised...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied psychology 2013-07, Vol.98 (4), p.623-641
Main Authors: COURTRIGHT, Stephen H, POSTLETHWAITE, Bennett E, MCCORMICK, Brian W, REEVES, Cody J, MOUNT, Michael K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ability
Ability tests
Biological and medical sciences
Employment discrimination
Estimating techniques
Exercise - physiology
Exercise Test - statistics & numerical data
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gender differences
Human
Human Sex Differences
Humans
Job Applicant Screening
Job requirements
Male
Measurement
Meta-analysis
Moderators
Muscle strength
Muscle Strength - physiology
Occupational psychology
Orientation. Selection. Evaluation
Personnel Selection
Physical ability
Physical activity
Physical Endurance - physiology
Physical Fitness
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Sex Characteristics
Sex differentiation
Sex Factors
Simulation
Studies
Systematic review
Systems Design
Test scores
Training
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Summary:Despite the wide use of physical ability tests for selection and placement decisions in physically demanding occupations, research has suggested that there are substantial male-female differences on the scores of such tests, contributing to adverse impact. In this study, we present updated, revised meta-analytic estimates of sex differences in physical abilities and test 3 moderators of these differences-selection system design, specificity of measurement, and training-in order to provide insight into possible methods of reducing sex differences on physical ability test scores. Findings revealed that males score substantially better on muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance tests but that there are no meaningful sex differences on movement quality tests. These estimates differ in several ways from past estimates. Results showed that sex differences are similar across selection systems that emphasize basic ability tests versus job simulations. Results also showed that sex differences are smaller for narrow dimensions of muscular strength and that there is substantial variance in the sex differences in muscular strength across different body regions. Finally, we found that training led to greater increases in performance for women than for men on both muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance tests. However, training reduced the male-female differences on muscular strengths tests only modestly and actually increased male-female differences on cardiovascular endurance. We discuss the implications of these findings for research on physical ability testing and adverse impact, as well as the practical implications of the results.
ISSN:0021-9010
1939-1854
DOI:10.1037/a0033144