TIMING OF PUBERTY AND SPATIAL ABILITY

这项研究旨在找出其背后的机制。 青春期后期与高空间能力的相关性。自.以来 男性进入青春期的时间比女性晚，空间也比女性高 能力，这项研究也与性别差异的原因有关 在空间能力上。D.Waber(1977a，b)提出大脑 偏侧化在晚熟的人中更明显，这是 因为他们有较高的空间能力。另一种理论是， 早熟与晚熟在人格和活动上的差异 造成空间能力差异。 该项目将对男性和女性进行纵向研究， 在13岁(八年级)学习，在15岁(十年级)再次学习。 将研究更多的受试者，以控制可能的影响 重复测试，以及测试/队列效应的时间。辍学效应 也将接受评估。将衡量五类变量： 青春期时间(4项)认知能力(空间和语言能力，2 分别测量)、偏侧化(对于空间和语言刺激，使用 2项速测性任务)、个性(4项测量)和活动(3项 措施)。惯用左手的人也将被评估。多元回归将是 用于评估可供选择的因果假设。理解 获得个体差异和性别差异的决定因素 在空间能力方面应该有助于决定如何最好地训练和培养 空间能力，这似乎有助于在各种重要的 职业，如数学和工程。

This research is directed to identifying the mechanism underlying the correlation of late timing of puberty with high spatial ability. Since males reach puberty later than females and also have higher spatial ability, this research is relevant also to the causes of sex differences in spatial ability. D. Waber (1977a, b) has proposed that brain lateralization is more pronounced in late maturers, and that this is the cause of their higher spatial ability. An alternative theory is that differences between early and late maturers in personality and activities causes the spatial ability difference. The project will involve a longitudinal study of males and females, studied at age 13 (eighth grade) and again at 15 (tenth grade). Additional subjects will be studied to control for possible effects of repeated testing, and for time of testing/cohort effects. Dropout effects will also be assessed. Five categories of variables will be measured: timing of puberty (4 measures) cognitive ability (spatial and verbal, 2 measures each), lateralization (for both spatial and verbal stimuli, using 2 tachistoscopic tasks), personality (4 measures) and activity (3 measures). Handedness will also be assessed. Multiple regression will be used to evaluate the alternative causal hypotheses. The understanding gained of the determinants of individual differences and sex differences in spatial ability should help in deciding how to best train and foster spatial ability, which seems to aid success in a variety of important occupations, such as mathematics and engineering.