STUDY ON GENDER AND AGE DIFFERENCES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPACE-TEMPORAL SKILLS IN STUDENTS AGED 8-11 YEARS

Abstract

Introduction: Understanding the mechanisms leading to the development of spatial and temporal skills is a topic of current interest, especially since they can predict academic performance. Objectives: The objective of this study was to improve space orientation skills with the help of specific exercises. Material and methods: 148 children aged between 8.1 and 11.9 years participated in this study (M= 9.70; SD= 0.79). They were subjected to 2 tests that measure spatial orientation skills (the Piaget Head Test and the Bender Santucci Test). The samples were applied both in the pre-test and post-test period. The participants in the experimental group underwent a specific program for a period of 12 weeks. The participants in the control group did not benefit from any manipulation of this variable. Results: The results showed that there is a statistically significant difference between the control group and the experimental group as recorded by the Piaget Head post-test results (M-W=2166.0, p=0.02). Moreover, differences were also recorded in the age categories, for both samples. Children aged between 10.6-11.9 years registered significantly higher scores, compared to the others (p.008/p.013). There were also differences between gender categories, but they were not significant. Conclusions: In conclusion, the intervention program had the expected effect.

Keywords

• space-temporal orientation, intervention, gender, age