本研究目的在探讨后形式思考信念发展的性别差异，受试为644位分布于青年期后期至成人期(年龄全距为十六至八十岁)的受试，以问卷法进行研究。后形式思考的测量采用社会典范信念的方式，资料分析以洛基对数线性模式考验性别差异。结果发现：后形式思考者相对于形式性思考者的比例随着年龄增加而提高；在青年期后期与成人早期，后形式思考者相对于形式性思考者的比例没有性别差异；至于中、老年期，女性之后形式思考者相对于形式性思考者的比例则显著高于男性。笔者根据研究结果讨论可能原因，并且提出未来探讨后形式思考性别差异的建议，包括后形式思考的测量、研究设计与研究议题等三方面。

The purpose of this study was to investigate the sex differences in the development of postformal thinking beliefs. Subjects were 644 ranging from late adolescence to adulthood (age from 16 to 80 years). Questionnaire was used as the research method and social paradigm belief was used to measure the postformal thinking. The logit loglinear model was used for data analysis. The results were: The percentage of postformal thinkers was significant lower than formalistic thinkers' in late adolescence group (18-23 years). In early adulthood group (24-40 years), the percentage of postformal thinkers relative to formalistic thinkers' was not significant. The percentage of postformal thinkers was significant higher than formalistic thinker's in middle and late adulthood group (41-80 years). In late adolescence and early adulthood group, sex difference in the percentage of postformal thinkers relative to formalistic thinkers' was not significant, but the percentage of postformal thinkers relative to formalistic thinkers' in middle and late adulthood female was significant higher than male's. The possible reasons of the above findings are discussed in the paper. According to these findings, there were suggestions of future research on sex differences in the development of postformal thinking, including the measurement of postformal thinking research design and inquiring issues.