Spatial visualization ability
Spatial ability (including spatial ability ) can generally be described as the ability of humans and other living beings, spatially seen in the idea and think. This capability includes the acquisition, organization, and the active use of data stored in the memory mental images. Spatial perception is quite a global construct. Therefore, it is not surprising that even among professionals so far no consensus could be found with respect to a uniform definition of spatial imagination. This is probably because this construct is actually even be divided into further sub- skills.
The focus is on recognizing the position and relationship of bodies in three-dimensional space. There are different perspectives on the concept of space, as will be described in a large meta-analysis from 1985 by Linn and Petersen: psychometric, differential, cognitive and strategic perspective. Most important in this context is the psychometric perspective: This focuses on the measurement of spatial ability by means of suitable psychometric tests, from whose results can then be calculated using factor analytic studies factors, so to speak components of spatial ability. It is more or less in order to specify the individual sub- components.
Rost ( 1977) reported on 50 studies that make two or three factors of spatial ability more likely than a single-factor theory of spatial cognition, as described, for example, El Koussy 1935 with a " k factor " assumed. What factors are exactly this now but it is not entirely uncontroversial.
According to Thurstone idea of space is one of the seven so-called primary mental abilities of intelligence theory of Thurstone and is divided into three factors: illustration ( Visualization ), spatial relationships (Spatial Relations ) and spatial orientation (Spatial Orientation). Illustration represents the mental conception of movements. This includes mental rotations, spatial shifts or folding of objects or their parts. Spatial relationships is the ability to detect the spatial configurations of objects or parts. In other words, it refers to the ability to identify an object from different perspectives. Spatial orientation finally stands for the correct spatial arrangement of oneself in a spatial situation.
Even in the much-cited meta-analysis by Linn and Petersen with the three factors Spatial perception (Spatial Perception ), presentation ability of rotations ( mental rotation) and illustration (Spatial Visualization ) one finds meaningful subdivisions.
A good spatial awareness is helpful to detect correlations of descriptive geometry. In technical drawing this ability plays a significant role both in creating and reading of engineering drawings. Design and construction are not feasible without this imagination.
Spatial perception and spatial visualization in combination with appropriate motor skills and good reflexes are essential for activities such as ball games.
The development of spatial ability is also a major concern of the card reading in the classroom.
Finally, the spatial imagination in many planning and artisanal activities is the basis for a secure profession. Spatial ability is trainable.
In the literature, significant gender differences in spatial ability in favor of men reported for adolescents and adults over again. You will find hardly of primary school age and not in preschool. Obviously, the expression of the idea of space depends not little also from the testosterone levels. There appears to be a curvilinear relationship: Too little and too much testosterone go with a lower expression of the idea of space capability associated.