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Mental Rotation With Tangible Three‐Dimensional Objects: A New Measure Sensitive to Developmental Differences in 4‐ to 8‐Year‐Old Children
Author(s) -
Hawes Zachary,
LeFevre JoAnne,
Xu Chang,
Bruce Catherine D.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
mind, brain, and education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.624
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1751-228X
pISSN - 1751-2271
DOI - 10.1111/mbe.12051
Subject(s) - mental rotation , measure (data warehouse) , rotation (mathematics) , psychology , test (biology) , spatial ability , cognitive psychology , mental development , developmental psychology , cognition , computer science , artificial intelligence , paleontology , database , neuroscience , biology
There is an emerging consensus that spatial thinking is fundamental to later success in math and science. The goals of this study were to design and evaluate a novel test of three‐dimensional ( 3D ) mental rotation for 4‐ to 8‐year‐old children ( N = 165) that uses tangible 3D objects. Results revealed that the measure was both valid and reliable and indicated steady growth in 3D mental rotation between the ages of 4 and 8. Performance on the measure was highly related to success on a measure of two‐dimensional ( 2D ) mental rotation, even after controlling for executive functioning. Although children as young as 5 years old performed above chance, 3D mental rotation appears to be a difficult skill for most children under the age of 7, as indicated by frequent guessing and difficulty with mirror objects. The test is a useful new tool for studying the development of 3D mental rotation in young children.