바로가기메뉴

본문 바로가기 주메뉴 바로가기

The Korean Journal of Woman Psychology

Gender Differences in Spatial Ability and Using Strategies for Solving Spatial Problems

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate gender differences in spatial ability and in the types of strategies used in solving spatial tasks. To accomplish this, a measure was constructed which included a spatial ability test with five different problem types: picture completion, embedded pieces, 3-D mental rotation, 2-D mental rotation, and form development. Each item was followed by a question that asked subjects to select which among the following five strategies they employed: holistic, analytic, combined, intuitional, and other. A total of 1063 participants consisting of undergraduate and graduate students completed the test. Results showed men performed better in one out of five of the problem types. Gender differences were also found in the use of strategies for each problem category: In 2-D and form development types, women used more holistic strategies than men. In picture completion tasks, women relied more heavily on an analytic strategy. In 3-D mental rotation, women used more holistic approach than men, and men used the intuitional strategy more frequently than women. The gender differences found in the use of strategies for solving different problems provides important clues for identifying causes of the gender differences described in previous research in the studies of spatial ability. In addition, we found that certain strategies were more frequently used in certain types of problems. These findings suggest new possibilities for strategy training intended to enhance spatial ability in educational settings.

keywords
spatial ability, strategy use, types of spatial problem, gender differences, 공간능력, 문제풀이 방략사용, 공간과제유형, 성차, spatial ability, strategy use, types of spatial problem, gender differences

Reference

1.

김관식, 최순철, 신제원, 김정완, 조남표, 박병주, 이재일 (2003). 치의학교육입문검사 개발 및 시행에 관한 1차년도 연구보고서. 치의학전문대학원 추진단 입문검사개발연구부.

2.

노언경 (2007). 중학생 적성검사 중 공간능력 영역에서의 성별에 따른 차별기능문항 추출. 이화여자대학교 대학원 석사학위논문.

3.

정명진 (2004). 청소년적성검사 공간능력영역에서의 성별에 따른 차별적 문항기능 추출. 이화여자대학교 대학원 석사학위논문.

4.

조석희, 장영숙, 정태희 (2003). 영재판별을 위한 간편 창의적 문제해결력 검사 개발을 위한 기초 연구. 교육학연구, 30(1), 259- 296.

5.

주지은 (2008). 공간검사의 문제풀이 방략유형 탐색과 성별, 공간능력 수준별, 전공계열별 집단차이. 이화여자대학교 대학원. 박사학위논문.

6.

주지은, 노언경, 이규민, 김아영 (2007). 공간능력 검사의 성차 및 과제유형 효과와 효율적 측정 구조 탐색. 교육심리연구, 21(2). 311-330.

7.

Anderson, J. R. (1983). A spreading activation theory of memory. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 22, 261-295.

8.

Barratt, B. S. (1953). An analysis of verbal reports of solving spatial problems as an aid in defining spatial factors. The Journal of Psychology, 36, 17-25.

9.

Carroll, J. B. (1993). Human cognitive abilities. A survey of factor-analytic studies. New York: Cambridge University Press.

10.

Cochran, K. F., & Wheatley, G. H. (1989). Ability and sex-related differences in cognitive strategies on spatial tasks. The Journal of General Psychology, 116, 43-55.

11.

Coleman, S. L., & Gotch, A. J. (1998). Spatial perception skills of chemistry students, Journal of Chemical Research, 75(2), 206-209.

12.

Cooper, L. A. (1976). Individual differences in visual comparison processes. Perception & Psychophysics, 19, 433–444.

13.

Egan, D. (1988). Individual differences in Human-Computer Interaction. In M. Helander (Ed.), Handbook of human-computer interaction (pp.543-568). Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers.

14.

Ericsson, K. A., & Simon, H. A. (1980). Verbal reports as data. Psychological Review, 87, 215-251.

15.

Feingold, A. (1988). Cognitive gender differences are disappearing. American Psychologist, 43, 95-103.

16.

Gazzaniga, M. S. (1983). Right hemisphere language following brain bisection: A twenty year perspective. American Psychologist, 38, 525-537.

17.

Gardner, H. (1983). Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences. New York: Basic Books.

18.

Geiser, C., Lehmann, W., & Eid, M. (2006). Separating “rotators” from “nonrotators” in the mental rotation test: A multigroup latent class analysis. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 41(3), 261-293.

19.

Glück, J. (1999). Spatial strategies-Kognitive strategien bei rauemlichen Leistungen [Spatial strategies-strategy use in spatial cognition]. Unpublished dissertation, University of Vienna, Austria.

20.

Glück, J., & Fitting, S. (2003). Spatial strategy selection: Interesting incremental information. International Journal of Testing, 3, 293-319.

21.

Glück, J., Machat, R., Jirasko, M., & Rollett, B. (2002). Training-related changes in solution strategy in a spatial test: An application of item response models. Learning and Individual Differences, 13, 1-22.

22.

Glück, J., Dünser, A., Steinblügl, K., & Kaufmann, H. (2007). Warning: Subtle aspects of strategy assessment may affect correlations among tests. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 104, 123-140.

23.

Gomez, L. M., Egan, D. E., & Bowers, C. H. (1986). Learning to use a text editor: Some learner characteristics that predict success. Human-Computer Interaction, 2, 1-23.

24.

Guilford, J. P. (1967). The nature of human intelligence. New York: McGraw-Hill.

25.

Hartman, N. W., & Bertoline, G. R. (2005). Spatial abilities and virtual technologies: Examining the computer graphics learning environment. Ninth International Conference on Information Visualisation, Ⅳ, 992-997.

26.

Jonassen, D. H., & Grabowski, B. L. (1993). Handbook of individual differences, learning, and instruction. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.

27.

Just, M. A., & Carpenter, P. A. (1985). Cognitive coordinate systems: Accounts of mental rotation and individual differences in spatial ability. Psychological Review, 92, 137-172.

28.

Kaufman, S. B. (2005). Sex differences in mental rotation and spatial visualization ability: Can they be accounted for by differences in working memory capacity. Intelligence, 35, 211-223

29.

Lawton, C. A. (1994). Gender differences in way-finding strategies: Relationship to spatial ability and spatial anxiety, Sex Roles, 30, 765-779.

30.

Lohman, D. F. (1988). Spatial abilities as traits, processes, and knowledge. In R. J. Sternberg (Ed.), Advances in the psychology of human intelligence (Vol. 4, pp.181-248). Hillsdale: Erlbaum.

31.

Lohman, D. F. (1994). Spatial ability. In R. J. Sternberg, (Ed.), Encyclopedia of human intelligence (Vol. 2, pp.1000-1007). New York: Macmillan.

32.

Lohman, D. F., & Kyllonen, P. C. (1983). Individual differences in solution strategy on spatial tasks. In D. F. Dillon & R. R. Schmeck (Eds.), Individual differences in cognition (pp.105-135). New York: Academic Press.

33.

Lohman, D. F., Pellegrino, J. W., Alderton, D. L., & Regian, J. W. (1987). Dimensions and components of individuals differences in spatial abilities. In S. H. Irvine & S. E. Newstead (Eds.), Intelligence and cognition: Contemporary frames of reference (pp.253-312). Dordrecht: Martinus Nijhoff.

34.

McGee, M. G. (1979). Human Spatial Abilities: Psychometric Studies; Environmental, genetic, hormonal, and neurological influences. Psychological Bulletin, 86, 889-918.

35.

Miller, C. L., & Bertoline, G. R. (1991). Spatial. visualization research and theories. The Engineering. Design Graphics Journal, 55(3), 5-14.

36.

Myers, C. T. (1957). Some observations of problem solving in spatial relations tests. Princeton, NJ: Educational Testing Service.

37.

Pellegrino, J. W., & Kail, R. (1982). Process analyses of spatial aptitude. In R. J. Sternberg (Ed.), Advances in the psychology of human intelligence, 1, 311-356. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale, NJ.

38.

Roberts. J. E, & Bell. M. A. (2003). Two- and three-dimensional mental rotation tasks lead to different partial laterality for men and women. International Journal of Psychology, 50, 235-246.

39.

Rosenthal, R., & Rubin, D. B. (1982). Further meta-analytic procedures for assessing cognitive gender differences. Journal of Educational Psychology, 74, 708-712.

40.

Schultz, K. (1991). The contribution of solution strategy to spatial performance. Canadian Journal of Psychology, 45, 474-491.

41.

Shea, D. L., Lubinski, D., & Benbow, C. P. (2001). Importance of assessing spatial ability in intellectually talented young adolescents: A 20-year longitudinal study. Journal of Educational Psychology, 93(3), 604-614.

42.

Smith, W. S., & Schroeder, C. K. (1981). Preadolescents' learning and retention of a spatial visualization skill. School Science and Mathematics, 81(8), 705-709.

43.

Stanney, K., & Salvendy, G. (1995). Information Visualization: Assisting low-spatial individuals with information access tasks through the use of visual mediators. Ergonomics, 38(6), 1184-1198.

44.

Sternberg, R. J., & Smith, E. E. (1988). The psychology of human thought. Cambridge University Press.

45.

Strong, S., & Smith, R. (2002). The development of a computerized version of Vandenberg’s mental rotation test and the effect of visuo-spatial working memory loading. The Engineering Design Graphics Journal, 66(2), 6-16.

46.

Stumpf, H., & Eliot, J. (1995). Gender-related differences in spatial ability and the k factor of general spatial ability in a population of academically talented students. Personality and Individual Differences, 19, 33-45.

47.

Stumpf, H., & Eliot, J. (1997). A structural analysis of visual spatial ability in academically talented students. Manuscript submitted for publication.

48.

Thurstone, L. L. (1938). Primary mental abilities. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

49.

Tuckey, H., & Selvaratnam, M. (1993). Studies involving three-dimensional visualization skills in chemistry. Studies in Science Education, 21, 99-121.

50.

Vincente, K. J., Hayes, B. C., & Williges, R. C. (1987). Assaying and isolating individual differences in searching a hierarchical file system. Human Factors, 29, 349-359.

51.

Voyer, D. (1997). Scoring procedure, performance factors, and magnitude of sex differences in spatial performance. The American Journal of Psychology, 110(2), 259-276.

52.

Voyer, D., Voyer, S., & Bryden, M. P. (1995). Magnitude of sex differences in spatial abilities: A meta-analysis and consideration of critical variables. Psychological Bulletin, 117, 250-270.

The Korean Journal of Woman Psychology