The contribution of solution strategy to spatial performance.

Abstract

In a series of studies three solution strategies for spatial problems were identified: a mental rotation strategy, a perspective change strategy, and an analytic strategy. The test-retest reliability, validity, and general inability of a measure of these strategics was established. This measure, the Spatial Strategy Questionnaire, was then used to assess the role of solution strategy in the spatial performance of 243 undergraduates. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that solution strategy accounted for significant, unique, and nonrcdundant amounts of performance variation for both mental rotation and orientation tasks, at a level roughly equivalent to the variation accounted for by sex. This was so even when strategy entered the regression equation after the variability due to sex, handedness, familial handedncss, reasoning ability, and cognitive habits had been removed. RESUME Dans unc scric d'etudes, trois strategics de solution de problcmcs spatiaux sont identifiees: une strategic de rotation mentale, une strategic de changement dc perspective et une strategic analytique. La fiabilite test-retest, la validitc et la generalisation d'unc mesure dc ccs strategics a etc ctablic. Cettc mesure, le questionnaire de strategie spatiale, fut ensuite ulilisee pour evaluer le role de la slragegie de solution dans la performance spatiale de 243 etudiants de premier cycle. Les analyses de regression hierarchiques ont revele que la solution de strategie expliquait une variation de performance significative, unique ct non-rcdondantc pour les taches de rotation et d'orientation, et cc a un niveau a peu pres equivalent a la variation obscrvec avec Ic scxe. Ceci ctait aussi vrai aprcs 1'elimination dc la variance due au sexe, a la dominance manucllc, a la dominance manucllc familialc, a la capacitc dc raisonnement et aux habitudes cognitives.People differ in how well they perform spatial tasks. Men score higher than women on a wide range of spatial problems (Maccoby & Jacklin, 1974; Sanders, Soares, & D'Aquila, 1982), but both within and between sexes this difference is moderated in a complex and not yet clearly delineated fashion by variables which include handedness, familial handedness, reasoning ability, and cognitive habits (Burnett, Lane,

Does men’s advantage in mental rotation persist when real three-dimensional objects are either felt or seen?

“…On the basis of similar instruments employed by Freedman and Rovegno (1981), Schultz (1991), and Peters et al (1995), a multiplechoice questionnaire was used to examine the strategies adopted during the test. In Question 1, the participant used a 1 (never) to 5 (always) scale to indicate how frequently he or she applied each of the seven strategies presented in Table 1.…”

“…In standard mental rotation conditions with visual input, two classes of strategies are generally identified: holistic strategies, in which the participants report trying to process the stimuli in a global fashion, and analytic strategies, in which the participants successively consider each stimulus part (Cooper, 1976;Shepard & Cooper, 1982). The participants reporting the holistic strategy of mentally moving the whole three-dimensional stimulus show higher proficiency than do those relying on the analytic strategy of finding key stimulus features and encoding their relative positions (Schultz, 1991). In haptic settings, when feeling simpler two-dimensional forms, many participants report employing similar analytic strategies, relying on verbal labeling (Dodds, 1983) or mentally moving specific features (Dellantonio & Spagnolo, 1990).…”

Random Walker Test: A computerized alternative to the Road-Map Test

“…The present study confirmed that left-right orientation requires two independent mental components: verbal-spatial mapping of left-right to a particular direction of the egocentric frame of reference and egocentric perspective rotation. Similarly, the vast majority of participants are known to adopt a strategy of egocentric perspective rotation (move self) for executing the RMT (Schultz, 1991). This distinction suggests that but neuroimaging studies have not yet narrowed down candidates for the cortical regions involved in perspective transformation (Creem-Regehr, Neil, & Yeh, 2007;Zacks & Michelon, 2005;Zaehle et al, 2007).…”

Strategy Variability in Solving Spatial Visualization Tasks: Rethinking the Purdue Spatial Visualization Test - Developments

“…The low spatial ability individuals also complained that they were unable to visualize the views altogether. 13,16,17,18 . Based on Spatial Strategy Questionnaire, Schultz 18 has identified three solution strategies for spatial problems: a mental rotation strategy, a perspective change strategy, and an analytic strategy.…”

“…13,16,17,18 . Based on Spatial Strategy Questionnaire, Schultz 18 has identified three solution strategies for spatial problems: a mental rotation strategy, a perspective change strategy, and an analytic strategy. However, the strategy use in PSVT has not been investigated.…”