TY - JOUR
T1 - Ninth graders' spatial ability and working memory capacity (WMC) in relation to their science and mathematics achievement and their gender
AU - Al-Balushi, Sulaiman
AU - Al-Battashi, Ismail A.
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - The purpose of the current study is to compare high and low achievers in science and mathematics in terms of their spatial ability and Working Memory Capacity (WMC), and to compare male and female learners' performance in both these two cognitive abilities and their science and mathematics achievements. The sample consisted of 102 ninth graders in Oman. To estimate participants' spatial ability and their WMC, the Water Level Task (WLT) and the Digit Span Backwards Test (DSBT) were used. The results indicated that both science and mathematics high achievers significantly outperformed low achievers in terms of spatial ability and WMC. In addition, females out-performed males in WMC, while males outperformed females in spatial ability. There were no significant differences between the two genders in terms of their achievement in science and mathematics.
AB - The purpose of the current study is to compare high and low achievers in science and mathematics in terms of their spatial ability and Working Memory Capacity (WMC), and to compare male and female learners' performance in both these two cognitive abilities and their science and mathematics achievements. The sample consisted of 102 ninth graders in Oman. To estimate participants' spatial ability and their WMC, the Water Level Task (WLT) and the Digit Span Backwards Test (DSBT) were used. The results indicated that both science and mathematics high achievers significantly outperformed low achievers in terms of spatial ability and WMC. In addition, females out-performed males in WMC, while males outperformed females in spatial ability. There were no significant differences between the two genders in terms of their achievement in science and mathematics.
KW - Gender differences
KW - Science and mathematics achievement
KW - Spatial ability
KW - Water level task (WLT)
KW - Working memory capacity (WMC)
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M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84881341796
SN - 1304-6020
VL - 10
SP - 12
EP - 27
JO - Journal of Turkish Science Education
JF - Journal of Turkish Science Education
IS - 1
ER -