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Developmental patterns of spatial ability: an early sex difference.

E S Johnson, A C Meade

    Child Development
    |June 1, 1987
    PubMed
    Summary
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    A study of over 1,800 students found that spatial ability can be measured in children (ages 6-18). A male advantage in spatial skills emerges by age 10 and persists through age 18.

    Area of Science:

    • Developmental psychology
    • Cognitive science
    • Educational psychology

    Background:

    • Assessing spatial ability in children is crucial for understanding cognitive development.
    • Previous research has yielded mixed results regarding sex differences in spatial skills across different age groups.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the feasibility of measuring spatial ability in a wide age range of K-12 students.
    • To examine the emergence and trajectory of sex differences in spatial performance from childhood to adolescence.

    Main Methods:

    • Administered a battery of 7 spatial tests to over 1,800 public school students (grades K-12, ages 6-18).
    • Utilized modified versions of adult paper-and-pencil spatial tests adapted for different developmental levels.
    • Employed analysis of covariance to control for potential confounding variables like language skills.

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    Main Results:

    • Spatial ability can be reliably measured in children aged 6-18 using adapted tests.
    • A statistically significant male advantage in spatial performance was observed starting at age 10.
    • This male advantage in spatial ability remained consistent in magnitude from age 10 through age 18.
    • Early female advantages in language skills may obscure male spatial advantages during primary school years.
    • No significant sex differences in spatial ability were detected in kindergarten children.

    Conclusions:

    • Modified adult spatial tests are effective for assessing spatial ability across a broad developmental spectrum in students.
    • Sex differences in spatial ability become apparent around age 10, favoring males, and persist through adolescence.
    • Language development may play a role in the observed timing and manifestation of sex differences in spatial cognition.