title: Drawing and handedness of preschoolers: a repeated-measurement approach to hand preference.
abstract: This study investigated handedness and drawing by preschoolers. An observational method for repeated measurement of hand preference is presented. A sample of 381 children (191 girls, 190 boys) ranging in age from 48 to 71 mo. was tested for drawing and hand preference on 14 tasks. Consistent hand preference was defined as always using a particular hand (left or right) for the same task. Girls with consistent hand preference showed better drawing scores compared to girls with inconsistent hand preference. The results showed the importance of a reliable method for measuring hand preference within a single task as early as preschool age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Psychology and Psychological Assessment, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5/1, 1010 Vienna, Austria. johanna.bruckner@univie.ac.at
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bruckner
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kastner-Koller
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deimann
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Voracek
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*