| Abstract: | This article focuses on two issues related to educational opportunity: (1) the relationship between risk-taking behavior and mathematics performance, and (2) whether there are gender differences in risk-taking behavior. From a review of literature it was concluded that students who are greater risk-takers perform better on mathematics tests and that males are greater risk-takers than females. It follows, therefore, that males perform better on mathematics tests in which risk-taking plays a role. It was further concluded that these differences effect the opportunities that girls are afforded in their desires to attend college, the availablitity of scholarships, and their self-confidence in mathematics. |
