Year: 2017
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This thesis comprises two main studies which sort to investigate the effect that the study of advanced mathematics had on performance on spatial tasks. The first cross-sectional study tested both pre- and post-advanced study students and found an advantage for the mathematicians in a general spatial ability, but no clear evidence of an education level/group interaction. The second longitudinal study tested students at two time points, before and after a year of advanced study. Again, the mathematicians showed higher spatial skills at both time points, but there was no interaction between time and group. Bayesian analyses of the data revealed moderate to strong evidence for the null hypothesis: that there was no formal discipline value of studying advanced mathematics in terms of an effect on spatial skills.
Author: Sara M. Humphries
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
Funder: Loughborough University
OpenAlex ID: W2738681978