A Review of Spatial Ability Literature, Its Connection to Chemistry, and Implications for Instruction

2010/11/29 by Marissa Harle, Marcy H. Towns · 1 citation
Engineering · Social Sciences · Psychology · #Spatial Cognition and Navigation #Geography Education and Pedagogy #Outdoor and Experiential Education

paper · doi:10.1021/ed900003n

openalex publication_date 2010/11/29 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30

Abstract

Chemists and scientists use spatial abilities as part of the way they understand and communicate their subject areas. A review of the foundational research literature in spatial ability and its connections to chemistry as a field and chemical education research allows for the formulation of implications for teaching in chemistry.

Citations

• Mental rotation: Effects of dimensionality of objects and type of task.
• Durable and generalized effects of spatial experience on mental rotation: gender differences in growth patterns
• Cognitive Pattern in Men and Women Is Influenced by Fluctuations in Sex Hormones
• A dissociation between mental rotation and perspective-taking spatial abilities
• Emergence and Characterization of Sex Differences in Spatial Ability: A Meta-Analysis
• Mental Rotations, a Group Test of Three-Dimensional Spatial Visualization

Cited by

• Marcy Towns [wikipedia]

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