“…Saarinen et al (1988) have noted that females consistently performed below males on the NCGE Geographic Competency Test and in their sketch map experiments. Other researchers have noted similar such differences (Kail et al, 1980;Jahoda, 1979;Moore, 1979;Brown & Broadway, 1981;Spencer & Weetman, 1981;Gilmartin, 1984;Matthews, 1986;Brewster & Blades, 1989;Downs & Liben, 1991) but others have found none or expressed reservations and unhappiness with the findings (Feldman & Acredolo, 1979;Liben & Golbeck, 1980;Gilmartin & Patton, 1984;Webley & Whalley, 1986;Allen, 1988;Garling, 1989;Blades, 1990;Self et al, 1992). The reasons for this are a contentious issue and a large debate is currently in progress centring around the spatial ability literature (for possible reasons see Table 3).…”