Tlauka Michael, Williams Jennifer, Williamson Paul
School of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Br J Psychol. 2008 Aug;99(Pt 3):427-40. doi: 10.1348/000712608X282806. Epub 2008 Feb 6.
Past research has demonstrated consistent sex differences with men typically outperforming women on tests of spatial ability. However, less is known about intra-sex effects. In the present study, two groups of female students (physical education and non-physical education secondary students) and two corresponding groups of male students explored a large-scale virtual shopping centre. In a battery of tasks, spatial knowledge of the shopping centre as well as mental rotation ability were tested. Additional variables considered were circulating testosterone levels, the ratio of 2D:4D digit length, and computer experience. The results revealed both sex and intra-sex differences in spatial ability. Variables related to virtual navigation and computer ability and experience were found to be the most powerful predictors of group membership. Our results suggest that in female and male secondary students, participation in physical education and spatial skill are related.
过去的研究表明，在空间能力测试中存在持续的性别差异，男性通常比女性表现更好。然而，关于性别内部效应的了解较少。在本研究中，两组女学生（体育和非体育中学学生）和两组相应的男学生探索了一个大型虚拟购物中心。在一系列任务中，测试了购物中心的空间知识以及心理旋转能力。考虑的其他变量包括循环睾酮水平、2D:4D手指长度比和计算机经验。结果揭示了空间能力方面的性别和性别内部差异。与虚拟导航以及计算机能力和经验相关的变量被发现是组成员身份的最有力预测因素。我们的结果表明，在男女中学生中，参与体育活动与空间技能相关。
