Gender Differences and Similarities in the Spatial Ability of Adolescents

Abstract

It is generally accepted that males are superior to females in spacial ability. To test this assumption, the Silver Drawing Test (SDT) was administered to students 12 to 15 years old (N = 33 girls, 33 boys) attending public schools in Nebraska, New York, and Pennsylvania. The test instrument included two spacial subtests: Predictive Drawing (ability to predict and represent sequential order, horizontality, and verticality) and Drawing from Observation (ability to perceive and represent left-right, above-below, and front-back relationships). No significant differences in spatial ability were found.