This section of the SILC website contains files of tests and surveys that have been developed by SILC researchers and that are available for research use. Please cite the source as indicated below in any reports or publications deriving from the use of these instruments. Also, please let the lead SILC researcher know if you modify or augment the instruments, and what your research findings are—
we are interested.
♦Hegarty, M. Richardson, A. E., Montello, D. R., Lovelace, K & Subbiah, I. (2002). Development of a Self-Report Measure of Environmental Spatial Ability. Intelligence, 30, 425-447.
The test instrument:
♦ Object Perspective/Spatial Orientation Test
References
♦Kozhevnikov, M. & Hegarty, M. (2001). A dissociation between object-manipulation and perspective-taking spatial abilities. Memory & Cognition, 29, 745-756.
♦Hegarty. M. & Waller, D. (2004). A dissociation between mental rotation and perspective-taking spatial abilities. Intelligence, 32, 175-191.
The test instrument:
Perspective Taking/Spatial Orientation Test (12 questions with answers)
♦ Santa Barbara Solids Test
Reference
♦Cohen, C. A. & Hegarty, M. (2007). Sources of difficulty in imagining cross sections of 3D objects. Proceedings of the 29^th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society.
The test instrument:
the test
the answer key
the answer key
♦ Visualization of Views Test
A test adapted from an unpublished Visualization of Views test by Guay that we read about in Elliot & Smith's compendium of spatial abilities tests. A paper has not been published on this test yet, but it is cited in the following two in-press papers:
References
♦Hegarty, M., Keehner, M., Khooshabeh, P. & Montello, D. R. (in press). How spatial ability enhances, and is enhanced by, dental education. Learning and Individual Differences.
♦Keehner, M. Hegarty, M., Cohen, C. A., Khooshabeh, P. & Montello, D. R. (in press). Spatial reasoning with external visualizations: What matters is what you see, not whether you interact. Cognitive Science.
The test instrument:
the test
the answer key
the answer key
♦ Mental Rotation Test
The test instrument:
Zip file contains Word documents of both the test and the scoring key
♦ Paper Folding Test
The test instrument:
the test
the answer key
Spatial Activity Survey
This spatial activity survey was developed by Newcombe, Bandura and Taylor (1983). It is a retrospective self-report measure concerning participation in 81 activities rated as spatial, divided by whether they are masculine, feminine, or neutral in sex typing. A meta-analysis of correlations with spatial ability was conducted by Baenninger & Newcombe (1989). A shorter version was used in research by Signorella, Jamison & Krupa (1989).
Email the Lead Researcher:
Nora Newcombe, Temple University
References
♦Baenninger, M. A. & Newcombe, N. (1989). The role of experience in spatial test performance: A meta-analysis. Sex Roles, 20, 327-344.
♦Newcombe, N., Bandura, M.M. & Taylor, D.G. (1983). Sex differences in spatial ability and spatial activities. Sex Roles, 9, 377-386.
♦Signorella, M.L., Jamison, W. & Krupa, M.H. (1989). Predicting spatial performance from gender stereotyping in activity preferences and in self-concept. Developmental Psychology, 25, 89-95.
The survey instrument:
Children's Mental Transformation Task
The Children's Mental Transformation Task was developed by Levine, Huttenlocher, Taylor, and Langrock (1999). It includes four types of items, all of which tap 2-D mental transformations. The item types are: horizontal translation, diagonal translation, horizontal rotation, and diagonal rotation. The task is appropriate for children in the 4 to 7 year age range, and shows a sex difference for children from middle SES backgrounds. This task was used in a recent study with kindergarteners (Ehrlich, Levine, & Goldin-Meadow, 2006). Results showed that boys gesture more about the movement of the shapes than girls when explaining how they solved the problems. Moreover, the use of movement gestures during explanations was correlated with performance on the test.
Email the Lead Researcher:
Susan Levine, University of Chicago
References
♦Ehrlich, S., Levine, S.C., & Goldin-Meadow, S. (2006). The importance of gesture in children’s spatial reasoning. Developmental Psychology, 42, 1259-1268.
♦Levine, S.C., Huttenlocher, J., Taylor, A. & Langrock, A. (1999). Early sex differences in spatial ability. Developmental Psychology, 35, 940-949.
Children's Mental Transformation Task instrument and item list:
When you attempt to open this document, a pop-up box may appear which states "The font 'Impact' contains bad /Widths." Please click on "OK".
Lists the items on each of the order forms.
Library of Shepard and Metzler type mental rotation stimuli
This library contains 16 different figures. Each, consistent with Shepard and Metzler’s approach, is composed of 10 cubes. Each figure is rendered in 5 degree steps of rotation from the basic orientation, from 0 to 360 degrees. The same is done for a mirror image of each of these figures. Thus, the basic number of figures in the library is 73 x 16 x 2, for a total of 2336 images.
All of the basic images are drawn either in rotations around the vertical axis (as in a pirouetting dancer) or around the horizontal axis (as, in a typical Canadian context, a log spinning in the water in a log rolling contest). Thus, the basic set comprises 2336 x 2 images x 2 (stimuli against a dark or light background) x 2 (stimuli drawn with alternate dark and light cubes or stimuli drawn in wire frame style), for a total of 18688 stimuli. Because of space considerations, the stimuli are drawn in jpg format. We are keeping a bmp backup to make sure that there is one set of stimuli that is not prone to deterioration.
Email the Lead Researchers:
Michael Peters, University of Guelph, ON, Canada
Christian Battista, University of Guelph, ON, Canada
References
♦Peters, M. & Battista, C. (2007 Oct 27; [Epub ahead of print]). Applications of mental rotation figures of the Shepard and Metzler type and description of a Mental Rotation Stimulus Library. Brain and Cognition.
♦Peters, M., Laeng, B., Latham, K., Jackson, M., Zaiyouna, R. & Richardson, C. (1995). A Redrawn Vandenberg & Kuse Mental Rotations Test: Different Versions and Factors that affect Performance. Brain and Cognition, 28, 39-58.
♦Peters, M., Manning, J. T. & Reimers, S. (2007). The effects of sex, sexual orientation, and digit ratio (2D:4D) on mental rotation performance. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 36(2), 251-260.
Library of Shepard and Metzler type mental rotation stimuli:
The large size of the library precludes mailing via e-mail. Researchers who wish to have the set should contact us by e-mail, and request a CD with the entire library which fits, just, on a single CD. Because it takes some of our time to write a disk, we reserve the right to charge a nominal amount for the cost of the CD (depending on the demands for the library).
Object-Location Memory Task
Here is a web publication for computerized assessment of object-location memory based on Silverman and Eal’s task (1992).
Lead Researcher: Kathleen Flannery, Saint Anselm College
References
♦Flannery, K. & Eddy, M. (1999). Object location memory [On-line].
Vandenberg & Kuse paper and pencil test (Redrawn version)
The original Vandenberg & Kuse Mental Rotation Test has deteriorated to such an extent (only copies of copies are available) that it is of questionable usefulness. We have redrawn this test and it is available in four versions: the basic test (MRTA), an alternate form (MRTB), stimuli presented for rotation around the horizontal axis (MRTD), and a very difficult test, where stimuli have to be rotated both around the vertical and horizontal axis (MRTC). Because these tests should not be in general circulation because of practice effects, they are available only to faculty researchers and to graduate students with the consent of the supervisor.
Email the Lead Researchers:
Michael Peters, University of Guelph, ON, Canada
Christian Battista, University of Guelph, ON, Canada
References
♦Peters, M. & Battista, C. (2007 Oct 27; [Epub ahead of print]). Applications of mental rotation figures of the Shepard and Metzler type and description of a Mental Rotation Stimulus Library. Brain and Cognition.
♦Peters, M., Laeng, B., Latham, K., Jackson, M., Zaiyouna, R. & Richardson, C. (1995). A Redrawn Vandenberg & Kuse Mental Rotations Test: Different Versions and Factors that affect Performance. Brain and Cognition, 28, 39-58.
♦Peters, M., Manning, J. T. & Reimers, S. (2007). The effects of sex, sexual orientation, and digit ratio (2D:4D) on mental rotation performance. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 36(2), 251-260.
The test instrument:
Please, email the lead researchers.
Video Game Experience Survey
This self-report measure of experience playing videogames was developed by Terlecki & Newcombe (2005). It correlates with scores on Mental Rotations tests.
Email the Lead Researcher:
M.S. Terlecki, Cabrini College
References
♦Terlecki, M.S. & Newcombe, N.S. (2005). How important is the digital divide? The relation of computer and videogame usage to gender differences in mental rotation ability. Sex Roles, 53, 433-441.
The survey instrument:
Visualization assessment and training (VIZ)
VIZ: The visualization assessment and training website, was developed as an open access site for the assessment and training of spatial skills. The site uses separate modules to collect accuracy and response times. We currently have four tasks, mental rotation, paper folding, water level, and spatial working memory and other tasks can be contributed. Excel macros that are currently under development will allow users to access data from a group or by date.
Email the Lead Researchers: Dawn Blasko, The Pennsylvania State University
Kathy Holliday-Darr, The Pennsylvania State University
Jennifer Trich-Kremer, The Pennsylvania State University
References
♦Blasko, D., Holliday-Darr, K., Mace, D., & Blasko-Drabik, H. (2004). VIZ: The visualization assessment and training website. Behavior Research Methods Instruments & Computers, 36(2), 256-260.
♦Holliday-Darr, K., Blasko, D., & Dwyer, C. (1999). Improving Cognitive Visualization with a Web-Based Interactive Assessment and Training program. American Society for Engineering Educators, Engineering Design Graphics Division 54th Annual Mid Year Meeting Proceedings, 147-151.
Read our latest updates and incoming news below or for SILC in the press go to our Press Room (click on PRESS ROOM icon above).
11/20/2008 Please, welcome Dale S. Klopfer to our Network. There are now 198 members in our Spatial Network!
11/19/2008 Welcome to our new SILC Undergraduate Members: Jennifer Conner, Sarah Hittinger, Rania McCauley, Maria Namowicz, katherine Nescio, Teuta Pasholli, Eman Saleh, Caryn Trasken and Allison Wolkin.
11/12/2008 We have added a blurb in our Press Room on Tim Shipley's research on using point-light displays for studying perceptual form processing. Some of the displays from the archive will be featured in a small segment on an upcoming Discovery Channel program, "The Science of Sex Appeal."
11/12/2008 Information about the Research in Spatial Cognition Lab (RISC) added to our Members page.
11/12/2008 Call for Papers:Spatial Cognition and Computation: Special Issue on You-Are-Here Maps --Creating Spatial Awareness through Map-like Representations
11/11/2008 Please, welcome our new SILC Postdocs: Andrea Frick and Daniele Nardi of Temple University.
11/05/2008 UPDATE:Two documents for the Spatial Learning in Geography Workshop have been up-dated and are now available.
11/04/2008 UPDATE: Some documents for the Spatial Learning in Geography Workshop will be up-dated/corrected and put on-line on Wednesday, 11/5/08.