Are Females more competitive than cooperative : an investigation into gender differences

Research into the competitiveness of children will allow coaches to create training programs which may elicit more participation from athletes. The competitiveness of males and females was investigated, measured and compared in the context of sport competitiveness. Males and females, aged 10-14 years, filled out the Sport Competitive Questionnaire (SCQ) and participated in a sport scenario (basketball). They were given the option to participate alone for a prize or with another individual to better their chances of winning for half the prize. Choosing to participate alone was recorded as competitive and choosing to participate with a partner was recorded as cooperative. Results indicated that males, from grades 5-8, were more cooperative and competitive than females of the same grade. The Sport Scenario showed that both males and females were more competitive than cooperative. Further research should look at a wider age range to determine if competitiveness levels increase with age.