Are Men Really More Overconfident than Women? - A Natural Field Experiment on Exam Behavior

Olof Johansson Stenman () and Katarina Nordblom ()
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Olof Johansson Stenman: Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University, Postal: Box 640, SE 40530 GÖTEBORG
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Olof Johansson-Stenman ()

No 461, Working Papers in Economics from University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics

Abstract: This paper reports from a simple natural field experiment based on an eco-nomics exam. Part of the exam consisted of 30 multiple choice questions, where the students obtained 1 point per correct answer while 1 point was deducted for each in-correct answer. We find no significant gender differences in overconfidence, irrespec-tive of how we measure it, i.e., whether we regard the number of questions answered, the number of questions answered incorrectly or the answering patterns for the most difficult questions. Hence, the data provides no support for the frequently proposed hypothesis that men are more overconfident than women.

Keywords: overconfidence; gender differences; exam behavior; field experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A22 D80 J16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 25 pages
Date: 2010-08-03
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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