Spatial Ability: Individual Differences in Speed and Level.
Abstract
This experiment investigated the relationships between speed, level, and complexity in individual differences in spatial ability. Thirty male high school and college students representing a wide range of individual differences in verbal ability and spatial ability were required to match, rotate, combine, and combine and then rotate three to eight point polygons. Three levels of construction (one, two, or three stimuli), three levels of stimulus complexity (low, medium or high), three levels of rotation (0, 90, or 180 degrees), and two types of discriminative response (correct or incorrect) were fully crossed in the within subjects design. Additionally, type of addition (left or right) and complexity of the to-be-constructed stimulus (low or high) were nested within levels of the construction facet but crossed with each other and all other facets. Correctness, confidence, total time, and from two to four component times were obtained on each item. Data were analyzed using regression, analysis of variance, and correlational techniques. It was concluded that the results of the experiment supported the hypothesis of speed-level independence and provided important insights into the nature of spatial ability.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA075973
Entities
People
- David F. Lohman
Organizations
- Stanford University