| Abstract: | During their socialisation process, many girls gifted in physics acquire a reality construction inconsistent with their objectively measurable competencies. In comparison to boys they rate their action and problem solving competencies unrealistically low, which results, for example, in extremely low participation rates in scientific and technical studies and professions. For this reason differences in motivation and self‐related cognitions become the focus of interest in explaining achievement differences. The present study was carried out prior to initial physics instruction. Students in the 7th grade of the German Gymnasium (243 girls and 282 boys) were divided according to their KFT 4‐13+ results into “average”, “gifted” or “highly gifted groups”. Prior to commencement of physics instruction, boys in general, as well as gifted male and female students, already possessed more knowledge of physics and more favourable motivation for the subject than girls or male and female students of average ability. In addition, domain specific measures and self‐related cognitions were evaluated in accordance with Dweck's model of achievement motivation. |
