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A Longitudinal Study of Predictors of Spatial Ability in Adolescent Females
Author(s) -
Newcombe Nora,
Dubas Judith Semon
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8624.1992.tb03593.x
Subject(s) - psychology , developmental psychology , spatial ability , lateralization of brain function , longitudinal study , predictability , cognition , cognitive psychology , statistics , physics , mathematics , quantum mechanics , neuroscience
This study examined the longitudinal predictability of spatial ability in late‐adolescent females by retesting 11‐year‐old girls studied by Newcombe and Bandura at age 16. Spatial ability at age 16 was predicted longitudinally from masculinity of the ideal self on a scale of intellectually relevant attributes at age 11, wanting to be a boy at age 11, and, negatively, by feminine expressivity at age 11. No timing of puberty or lateralization effects were observed. The findings strengthen evidence that sex‐related differences in spatial ability could be experientially determined, and help to focus the search for exactly how this occurs. The findings also cast doubt on the idea that sex‐related differences in spatial ability could be caused by sex differences in timing of puberty or lateralization, although other biological mechanisms remain plausible.