Visuo-Spatial Abilities across Age Groups: A Cross-Sectional Study
Keywords:
Visuo-spatial abilities, block design test, children, adolescents, young adults, middle- aged adultsAbstract
Although the visuo-spatial ability is one of the major components of fluid intelligence, it has not been explored much. Moreover, the researchers who have explored this area have restricted with one or two age groups but have not explored across different age groups. The objective of this study is to examine the differences in the visuo-spatial abilities of children, adolescents, young, and middle-aged adults and also the gender difference in them. This is a cross-sectional study comprising of four different age groups such as children, adolescents, young adults and middle-aged adults with 30 participants each (a total of 120 participants) with 56 males and 64 females. The visuo-spatial ability is measured using the Block Design Test (BDT) taken from Weschler’s intelligence scales- WISC-IV and WAIS-IV. The statistical techniques used are t-test, and ANOVA. The results showed significant differences in the visuo-spatial abilities of different age groups and a curvilinear pattern was obtained with children displaying the least ability, followed by middle-aged adults, adolescents, and young adults. Unlike the other components of fluid intelligence, like working memory and processing speed that show significant gender differences, this study did not find any gender difference in the visuo-spatial abilities of individuals.
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