Effects of two-dimensional mental rotation training on children's mathematics performance are mixed, with significant correlations between rotation and mathematics measures¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · review r2–r3 · q2
Currency · newest study 2018 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Immediate post-test mathematics gains followed two-dimensional mental rotation training in one study, but a different training intervention with a delayed post-test showed no improvement. → Jeffrey Buckley 2018 q2 i? Pre-test two-dimensional mental rotation scores correlated significantly with mathematics performance (r = 0.40 to 0.63). → Jeffrey Buckley 2018 (2)

Evidence¶

Jeffrey Buckley 2018¶

Jeffrey Buckley, Niall Seery, Donal Canty. (2018). A Heuristic Framework of Spatial Ability: a Review and Synthesis of Spatial Factor Literature to Support its Translation into STEM Education. Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-018-9432-z

q2 · i? · review · r2

The review reports that in 6- to 8-year-olds, Cheng and Mix found "statistically signif- icant gains in performance relative to a pre-test" with an immediate mathematics post-test, whereas Hawes et al.'s week-delayed post-test after a different training intervention showed no improvement.

"Cheng and Mix ( 2014) implemented a mathematics post-test directly after the training and found statistically signif- icant gains in performance relative to a pre-test."

Jeffrey Buckley 2018 (2)¶

Jeffrey Buckley, Niall Seery, Donal Canty. (2018). A Heuristic Framework of Spatial Ability: a Review and Synthesis of Spatial Factor Literature to Support its Translation into STEM Education. Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-018-9432-z

q2 · i? · review · r3

The review reports Hawes et al. found "statistically significant correlations between pre-test measures of two-dimensional mental rotations and mathematics problems ranging fromr = 0.40 to 0.63", and posited Cheng and Mix's gains were a priming effect from similar problems.

"They did find statistically significant correlations between pre-test measures of two-dimensional mental rotations and mathematics problems ranging fromr = 0.40 to 0.63."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Spatial Ability — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes

Related Claims¶

• Spatial Training Improves Math Performance — a broader claim this one bears on
• Block Play Predicts Math Achievement — related
• The spatial curriculum produced near transfer to improved spatial scanning and increased self-reported spatial habits of mind, but not to mental rotation — related
• Perspective-taking (spatial orientation) shows evidence of uniqueness from mental rotation factors — related
• Spatial ability correlates with educational performance across many STEM disciplines and sub-disciplines — related
• Spatial ability interventions have increased STEM performance and retention, but a causal effect remains categorically unestablished — a broader claim this one bears on
• Five hours of Tetris play improved some mental rotation measures but not most spatial skill measures — related
• Spatial ability scores are positively associated with mathematics performance across children and adults, as the review reports — related