Document Type
Thesis
Date of Degree Completion
Fall 2010
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Department
Psychology
Committee Chair
Dr. Kara I Gabriel, Department of Psychology
Second Committee Member
Dr. Terry DeVietti, Psychology Department
Third Committee Member
Dr. Audrey D. Huerta, Director Science Honors Research Program
Abstract
Mental rotation (MR) tasks consistently show sex differences in performance. However, such tasks commonly present three-dimensional (3D) objects in two-dimensional paper-and-pencil forms (i.e., quasi-3D). The current experiment investigated the effect of real 3d objects on MR performance to determine if sex differences in MR are, in part, an artifact of using quasi-3D stimuli. Eighty undergraduates (40 men, 40 women) underwent training prior to alternating timed blocks of real-3D and quasi-3D MR trials. Sex differences were observed under both quasi-3D and real-3D conditions with real-3D stimuli resulting in higher accuracy for both sexes. Enrollment in science courses and self-reported map proficiency negatively correlated with both real-3D and quasi-3D performance. Findings suggest that MR with real-3D objects utilizes distinct but overlapping mental processes to that of quasi-3D condition and the use of real-3D objects in MR tasks can enhance performance in both sexes.
Recommended Citation
Felix, Michael C., "Real Three-Dimensional Objects Improve Performance for Both Genders on a Mental Rotation Task" (2010). Undergraduate Honors Theses. 65.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/undergrad_hontheses/65
Comments
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