Understanding the Relationship between Spatial Ability and Mathematics Achievement through the Lens of Information Processing Theory

This study tested the extent that verbal working memory, visuospatial working memory, and executive functioning predict mental rotation spatial ability. The study also tested the extent executive functioning, verbal working memory, and mental rotation spatial ability predict mathematics achievement....

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNorth American journal of psychology Vol. 22; no. 2; pp. 173 - 192
Main Authors Wang, Lu, Carr, Martha
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Winter Garden North American Journal of Psychology 01.06.2020
Subjects
Achievement tests
Algebra
Book publishing
Boys education
Executive function
Mathematics
Memory
Reading comprehension
Short-term memory
Structural equation modeling
United States
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Summary:This study tested the extent that verbal working memory, visuospatial working memory, and executive functioning predict mental rotation spatial ability. The study also tested the extent executive functioning, verbal working memory, and mental rotation spatial ability predict mathematics achievement. Structural equation modeling was deployed to test the model. The model was derived from prior studies that tested the relationships among subsets of the variables tested in this study. The structural equation model showed a good model fit. Executive functioning significantly predicted both verbal working memory and visuospatial working memory, though the predictive relationship was stronger from executive functioning to visuospatial working memory. These findings are consistent with prior findings and existing theory pertaining to the structure of working memory and the intercorrelations among sub-components of working memory. Finally, the path loading from mental rotation to mathematics achievement was statistically significant and moderate in magnitude, confirming the important implications of mental rotation spatial ability to mathematics achievement.
ISSN:1527-7143