On the Empirical Relation Between Spatial Ability and Sex Differences in Other Aspects of Cognitive Performance

Abstract

The hypothesis that sex differences in field independence and mental arithmetic can be accounted for by sex differences in spatial ability was supported for a group of 46 female and 35 male undergraduates. Sex-typing does not appear to be strongly related to spatial ability for either sex. There is a possibility of the existence of a field-independence trait independent of spatial ability, particularly among females; however, if such a trait does exist there do not appear to be significant sex differences with respect to it. Factor analysis indicates that tests of spatial ability, field independence, and mental arithmetic emerge together in a spatial ability factor. Sex differences in the factor structure of nine measures, most of which typically display sex differences (spatial ability, field independence, mental arithmetic, vocabulary, verbal and nonverbal creativity, femininity, and achievement motivation) were largely the result of differences with respect to a spatial factor.