Growth Rate in Spatial Ability Predicts Early Mathematics Competence
作者单位:Faculty of Education The University of Hong Kong Department of Psychological Studies The Education University of Hong Kong
会议名称:《第二十届全国心理学学术会议--心理学与国民心理健康》
会议日期:2017年
学科分类:0402[教育学-心理学(可授教育学、理学学位)] 040202[教育学-发展与教育心理学] 04[教育学]
关 键 词:spatial ability mathematics competence growth rate longitudinal research
摘 要:There is a well-established relation between overall level of spatial ability and mathematics competence: people who are stronger in the former perform better on tests of the latter. However, does the rate of growth in spatial ability also matter? A total of 106 Chinese children(57 girls;age at first time point: M = 45.1 ± 3.4 months) in two preschools in Hong Kong participated in this study. Children were tested individually a total of five times across their first to third years of preschool as follows: in the spring(May, Time 1 [T1];N = 106) of the first year, the fall(November, Time 2 [T2];N = 88) and spring(May, Time 3 [T3];N = 80) of the second year, and the fall(November, Time 4 [T4];N = 75) and spring(May, Time 5 [T5];N = 71) of the third(final) year. Spatial perception and language ability were tested at each point from T1 to T4. Spatial analogic reasoning and spatial visualization were tested at T4. Mental rotation and mathematics and reading competencies were tested at T5. To examine the level and rate of growth in spatial perception and the effect of each of these on later mathematics competence(in contrast to reading), we performed growth-curve analyses. Moreover, we conducted control variable analyses to investigate whether the observed effects remained significant after accounting for the influences of spatial analogic reasoning, spatial visualization, mental rotation, and the level and growth rate in language ability. The results showed that growth rate in spatial perception during the preschool years significantly predicted mathematics competence at the end of preschool. This effect was over and above the overall levels of spatial perception and spatial reasoning and the level and rate of growth in language ability. The findings highlight the need to provide spatial learning opportunities for preschoolers whose rate of growth in this skill is slower than that of their peers.