Executive function and spatial skills jointly predict 70% of the variance in age-4 mathematics performance without an explicit number-knowledge measure¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r2 · q3
Currency · newest study 2014 · checked against its sources 2026-10-20 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? In the final hierarchical regression, EF (FIST, Tap Test) entered at step 1 and spatial skills (TOSA, VMI) at step 2 accounted for 70% of variance in WIAT Math Problem Solving scores. → Verdine 2014

Evidence¶

Verdine 2014¶

Verdine, B. N., Irwin, C. M., Golinkoff, R. M., & Hirsh-Pasek, K. (2014). Contributions of Executive Function and Spatial Skills to Preschool Mathematics Achievement. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 126, 37-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2014.02.012

q3 · i? · associational · r2

Final hierarchical regression (Model 3) in a longitudinal study of 44 children tested at ages 3 and 4, predicting WIAT Math Problem Solving raw scores. The spatial step "significantly added to the variance accounted for on the WIAT" with adj. R2 = .271, F(2, 39) = 19.82, p < .001, for an overall model of 70% of variance.

"the TOSA and VMI scores were then entered in the second step of the regression, and significantly added to the variance accounted for on the WIAT ( adj. R2 = .271, F(2, 39) = 19.82, p = <.001), with the overall model accounting for 70% of the variance in age 4 mathematics scores."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

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

Related Claims¶

• EF measures jointly account for 43% of math variance, with inhibition (Tap Test) a significant unique predictor but cognitive flexibility (FIST) not significant in any model — related
• Spatial assembly skill measured at age 3 (TOSA) strongly correlates with mathematics performance one year later at age 4 — related
• Spatial skills uniquely predict 27% of the variance in preschool mathematics over and above executive function — related
• Vocabulary (PPVT) is not a significant unique predictor of preschool mathematics once EF and spatial skills are in the model, despite alone accounting for 41% of variance — related
• Longitudinal evidence shows spatial ability predicts STEM educational and occupational outcomes beyond mathematical and verbal ability — related
• Higher-SES preschoolers outperform lower-SES peers on math, spatial, EF, and vocabulary measures, except the Tap Test where the difference is a non-significant trend — related
• Executive functioning and early numeracy skills assessed in kindergarten directly predict mathematical performance in second grade, jointly explaining 57.3% of its variance — related
• IQ and working memory are reliable predictors of academic achievement at the beginning of school when domain knowledge is not controlled — related
• Preschool executive functions robustly predict mathematical skills during preschool and later in development — a broader claim this one bears on
• Spatial ability scores are positively associated with mathematics performance across children and adults, as the review reports — related