ERIC Number: ED592487
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
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Available Date: N/A
The Distinction between Mathematics and Spatial Reasoning in Assessment: Do STEM Educators and Cognitive Psychologists Agree?
Harris, Danielle; Lowrie, Tom
Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA) (41st, Auckland, New Zealand, 2018)
Mathematics in Australia specifies spatial reasoning as a general capability within the curriculum. However, psychological research to date limits spatial assessment to psychometric tests leaving little room for a well-defined spatial curriculum. Although there are clear relationships between mathematics and spatial thinking, the independence in the measurement of the two constructs in research literature is rarely explored. In the present study, professionals in the fields of STEM Education and Cognitive Psychology evaluated mathematics and spatial assessment items. The results show evidence for a distinction between the two constructs in the content of the items, however with a caveat that thoughtful selection of assessment items is crucial to ensure independence in the measures.
Descriptors: Correlation, Mathematics Instruction, STEM Education, Spatial Ability, Thinking Skills, Foreign Countries, Cognitive Psychology, Numeracy, Psychologists
Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. GPO Box 2747, Adelaide SA 5001, Australia. Tel: +61-8-8363-0288; Fax: +61-8-8362-9288; e-mail: sales@merga.net.au; Web site: http://www.merga.net.au/
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia
Identifiers - Location: Australia; United States; United Kingdom; New Zealand; El Salvador; Saudi Arabia
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