Mental Rotation Performance: Contribution of Item Features to Difficulties and Functional Adaptation
Mental rotation is an important aspect of spatial ability. While the importance of measuring mental rotation has been explored, disputes still exist within the literature surrounding sources of item difficulty in mental rotation tests (MRTs). Furthermore, gender differences in MRT performance are of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Intelligence |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/13/1/2 |
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| author | Mehdi Rajeb Andrew T. Krist Qingzhou Shi Daniel O. Oyeniran Stefanie A. Wind Joni M. Lakin |
| author_facet | Mehdi Rajeb Andrew T. Krist Qingzhou Shi Daniel O. Oyeniran Stefanie A. Wind Joni M. Lakin |
| author_sort | Mehdi Rajeb |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mental rotation is an important aspect of spatial ability. While the importance of measuring mental rotation has been explored, disputes still exist within the literature surrounding sources of item difficulty in mental rotation tests (MRTs). Furthermore, gender differences in MRT performance are often seen but not fully understood. In the current study, we analyzed sources of item difficulty in a set of spatial ability test items using the Linear Logistic Test Model (LLTM). We found that items with more cubes, color differences, and higher rotational complexity tend to be more difficult, whereas items that contain occlusion, a mirrored structure, and a homogenous configuration type tend to be easier. Next, using Differential Component Functioning (DCF) analysis, we analyzed gender differences across these different item characteristics, finding that the number of cubes and color characteristics made questions more difficult for males when compared to females. The results and implications of this study are discussed in further detail. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7080fc21f8774cb2a44a9c7224939bde |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2079-3200 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Intelligence |
| spelling | doaj-art-7080fc21f8774cb2a44a9c7224939bde2025-01-24T13:36:20ZengMDPI AGJournal of Intelligence2079-32002024-12-01131210.3390/jintelligence13010002Mental Rotation Performance: Contribution of Item Features to Difficulties and Functional AdaptationMehdi Rajeb0Andrew T. Krist1Qingzhou Shi2Daniel O. Oyeniran3Stefanie A. Wind4Joni M. Lakin5Department of Educational Studies in Psychology, Research Methodology, and Counseling, College of Education, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USADepartment of Educational Studies in Psychology, Research Methodology, and Counseling, College of Education, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USADepartment of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USADepartment of Educational Studies in Psychology, Research Methodology, and Counseling, College of Education, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USADepartment of Educational Studies in Psychology, Research Methodology, and Counseling, College of Education, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USADepartment of Educational Studies in Psychology, Research Methodology, and Counseling, College of Education, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USAMental rotation is an important aspect of spatial ability. While the importance of measuring mental rotation has been explored, disputes still exist within the literature surrounding sources of item difficulty in mental rotation tests (MRTs). Furthermore, gender differences in MRT performance are often seen but not fully understood. In the current study, we analyzed sources of item difficulty in a set of spatial ability test items using the Linear Logistic Test Model (LLTM). We found that items with more cubes, color differences, and higher rotational complexity tend to be more difficult, whereas items that contain occlusion, a mirrored structure, and a homogenous configuration type tend to be easier. Next, using Differential Component Functioning (DCF) analysis, we analyzed gender differences across these different item characteristics, finding that the number of cubes and color characteristics made questions more difficult for males when compared to females. The results and implications of this study are discussed in further detail.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/13/1/2mental rotation testspatial abilityLLTMitem characteristicsRasch model |
| spellingShingle | Mehdi Rajeb Andrew T. Krist Qingzhou Shi Daniel O. Oyeniran Stefanie A. Wind Joni M. Lakin Mental Rotation Performance: Contribution of Item Features to Difficulties and Functional Adaptation Journal of Intelligence mental rotation test spatial ability LLTM item characteristics Rasch model |
| title | Mental Rotation Performance: Contribution of Item Features to Difficulties and Functional Adaptation |
| title_full | Mental Rotation Performance: Contribution of Item Features to Difficulties and Functional Adaptation |
| title_fullStr | Mental Rotation Performance: Contribution of Item Features to Difficulties and Functional Adaptation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mental Rotation Performance: Contribution of Item Features to Difficulties and Functional Adaptation |
| title_short | Mental Rotation Performance: Contribution of Item Features to Difficulties and Functional Adaptation |
| title_sort | mental rotation performance contribution of item features to difficulties and functional adaptation |
| topic | mental rotation test spatial ability LLTM item characteristics Rasch model |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-3200/13/1/2 |
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