Abstract The purpose of this study is to investigate gender differences in scientific interest among elementary and junior high school students, and to explain the differences in view of students' moral development. Though many studies showed that male students have much more interest in science than female students, the issue could be sized up from various facets. In terms of attributes of personality, moral development theory provides an integrated framework to explain the correlation between different gerders' interest in science and moral development, which shares great common phenomena. However we need to break through the theroetical analysis used in this way, for gender differences in moral development need to further develop and improve to reach an agreement.