Spatial ability, sex, and handedness at 10/11 years of age

Abstract

The importance of spatial ability is argued and the difficulties in defining and assessing it discussed. These questions are asked are the suggested relationships between spatial ability and sex, and between spatial ability and handedness still evident when spatial ability and handedness are more carefully defined than usual and when children of 10/11 are studied? The Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (E.H.I.) was modified and administered to 519 children. E.H.I. score and writing hand were compared as criteria of handedness. All 57 left handers and 57 right handers matching them in degree of handedness, age, and school experience were selected. The Spatial Test II (Watts) was administered to these 114 children. No evidence was found of any relationship. The implications of this are discussed.