Manual dexterity shows a significant positive very weak to weak association with mathematical skills, despite mixed findings¶
Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · reviewr3·q3·i1small
Currency · newest study 2018 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person
Subclaims¶
Reading the evidence codes
q is the design tier, i the impact, n the sample, and the kind with its r
the rigour judged within that kind: what each code means.
This claim: no standardized effect is recorded in observations/ for it yet, so no benchmark reading is possible.
q3 i1 Correlational studies found significant very weak to weak positive correlations (r = 0.11–0.37) between manual dexterity and mathematical ability, but two high-school studies reported non-significant associations. → Macdonald Kirstin 2018
Evidence¶
Macdonald Kirstin 2018¶
Macdonald Kirstin, Milne Nikki, Orr Robin, Pope Rodney. (2018). Relationships between Motor Proficiency and Academic Performance in Mathematics and Reading in School-Aged Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15081603
q3 · i1 · review · r3
Review synthesis of nine observational studies of manual dexterity and mathematics. Four correlation studies found "significant very weak to weak positive correlations (r = 0.11−0.37)"; five of six studies reporting significant associations were of fair to good quality.
"Summary coding suggests that despite mixed findings, overall there was sufficient evidence to support a significant positive very weak to weak association between manual dexterity and mathematical skills (see Table 1)."
Discussion¶
Related Claims¶
- Fine motor integration shows a significant very weak to strong positive association with mathematics performance, the strongest-supported fine motor component
- Total fine motor scores are significantly and positively associated with mathematics performance in school-aged children, with strong review-level evidence
- Total gross motor scores show a very weak to moderate positive association with mathematical skills despite conflicting findings
- Fine motor skills show a significant moderate overall correlation (r = .329) with academic-cognitive skills in children and adolescents
- Graphomotor skills show the strongest links of the FMS subdomains with academic-cognitive skills, significantly exceeding dexterity
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