Spatial ability has been studied primarily through two perspectives: the developmental and the information processing orientations. This research combines these approaches. Mental rotation (the ability to mentally rotate objects) was examined by focusing on the developmentalists' concern for age of acquisition of this ability and the information theorists' attention to stimulus factors influencing this competency. Sixty students, twenty each in kindergarten, third, and fifth grade, participated in the study; there were equal numbers of males and females for every grade. Each student was shown 240 slides featuring two line drawings, a standard stimulus on the left, a trial stimulus on the right. For each slide, the subject indicated whether the stimuli were alike or different by pressing an appropriate button. The standard stimulus was always upright; the trial stimulus was upright or was rotated to 45, 90, 135, or 180 degrees. The four standard stimuli used each consisted of a circle. They differed, however, by possessing or lacking a cone atop the circle and by having an orthogonal or oblique internal axis. Each standard stimulus was paired with a trial stimulus which was a: (1) match, (2) reflection, or (3) internal mismatch (orthogonal axis paired with an oblique axis and vice-versa) of the standard stimulus. When the subjects indicated their judgment, their choice and their response time were recorded, providing both competency and process data. A series of analyses were performed, the outcome of one directing the course of the next. Two analyses of variance were made on competency data (for zero and for the rotated positions) and one on process data. The research yielded several significant findings, the most important of which was an interaction between the nature of the to-be-rotated stimulus and the degree of the rotation. This interaction indicated that short reaction times occurred when the internal axis of the test item was orthogonal; long reaction times occurred when the axis was oblique. These results were discussed with regard to developmental and information processing views of mental rotation.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between health-related fitness levels and academic achievement in elementary school children. A sample of 105 elementary students in grades four and five were tested. The study consisted of 64 males and 41 females in both grades. California Achievement Test scores of reading, language, and math were selected to reflect the academic achievement variables. The AAHPERD Physical Best Test was used to measure physical fitness. Test items included body composition (sum of the tricep and calf skinfolds), one-mile walk/run, sit-ups, and sit and reach. A SAS Canonical Correlation Analysis was used to examine the relationship between health-related physical fitness and academic achievement. Means and standard deviations were calculated for both genders, and females and males alone. Results indicated that there was no significant relationship (R > .05) between health-related physical fitness levels and academic achievement in fourth- and fifth-grade students. / School of Physical Education

No description available.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of transition room placement by comparing the academic achievement and readiness for middle school of two groups of fifth grade students. The Readiness Group had received an extra year of school between kindergarten and first grade which gave them a year's age advantage over the Non-readiness Group.First, second, third, and fourth grade standardized test scores were collected from students' permanent record cards and used for comparisons of academic achievement. Social, emotional, and academic readiness for middle school were judged by fifth grade teachers using an instrument developed by the researcher.An analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures was used to test five null hypotheses. A simple effects test was conducted on each hypothesis to further interpret the results. The .05 level of significance was postulated for the rejection of the five null hypotheses.The results of the study were as follows:1. At the end of first grade, the Readiness Group had a slight but not significant academic advantage. The Non-readiness Group scored significantly higher on measures of reading, mathematics and composite standardized achievement test scores at second, third, and fourth grades.2. Fifth grade teachers judged the Non-readiness Group significantly higher on behavioral characteristics that reflect social, emotional and academic readiness for middle school.The most significant educational implication is that school systems need to examine their criteria for readiness placements and evaluate the long-term benefits of this extra year of school.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 46-49). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 46-49). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2003. / Advisor: Dr. Barbara Licht, Florida State University, Dept. of Psychology. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Apr. 8, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves : 65-68).

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