STUDENTS GENDER AS A MODERATING FACTOR OF CORRELATION BETWEEN LINGUISTIC CAPITAL AND ACADEMIC OUTCOMES

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this paper is to verify the impact of gender on correlations between native language competences and academic activity of master grade students of social sciences in Poland. Results are discussed with other international findings. Methods: Gathering of the data was via an auditorial survey. Data was collected from 235 students (163 female, 73 male) at the Faculty of Social Sciences at one of the Polish national universities. It was analysed using T-Students test and Linear Regression models. Results: T-Students test results indicate that female students have significantly higher educational outcomes and study results scores than male students. Regression analysis reveals that gender as a moderating factor of linguistic capital is a significant predictor in regard to students education outcomes and study results. The main part of linguistic capital significantly moderated by gender is language experience. Conclusions: Female students have equal linguistic capital and language experiences to male students, however they are more capable of using that capital to their benefit in the context of academic education. Implications of the study and future recommendations are advised.