title: Spatial ability in secondary school students: intra-sex differences based on self-selection for physical education.
abstract: Past research has demonstrated consistent sex differences with men typically outperforming women on tests of spatial ability. However, less is known about intra-sex effects. In the present study, two groups of female students (physical education and non-physical education secondary students) and two corresponding groups of male students explored a large-scale virtual shopping centre. In a battery of tasks, spatial knowledge of the shopping centre as well as mental rotation ability were tested. Additional variables considered were circulating testosterone levels, the ratio of 2D:4D digit length, and computer experience. The results revealed both sex and intra-sex differences in spatial ability. Variables related to virtual navigation and computer ability and experience were found to be the most powerful predictors of group membership. Our results suggest that in female and male secondary students, participation in physical education and spatial skill are related.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia. michael.tlauka@flinders.edu.au
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tlauka
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Williamson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001076:Aptitude; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003197:Computer Literacy; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D008297:Male; D009949:Orientation; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011336:Probability; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D013028:Space Perception; D013177:Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D018910:Video Games
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone