A longitudinal study of predictors of spatial ability in adolescent females.
This study examined the longitudinal predictability of spatial ability in late-adolescent females by retesting 11-year-old girls studied by Newcombe and Bandura at age 16. Spatial ability at age 16 was predicted longitudinally from masculinity of the ideal self on a scale of intellectually relevant attributes at age 11, wanting to be a boy at age 11, and, negatively, by feminine expressivity at age 11. No timing of puberty or lateralization effects were observed. The findings strengthen evidence that sex-related differences in spatial ability could be experientially determined, and help to focus the search for exactly how this occurs. The findings also cast doubt on the idea that sex-related differences in spatial ability could be caused by sex differences in timing of puberty or lateralization, although other biological mechanisms remain plausible.
Newcombe
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Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122.
Dubas
J S
JS
D000293:Adolescent; D001076:Aptitude; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007839:Functional Laterality; D005783:Gender Identity; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009949:Orientation; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010553:Personality Development; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013028:Space Perception; D013236:Stereognosis; D014888:Wechsler Scales