An investigation of Middle School Students’ Spatial Reasoning Skills

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in spatial reasoning as a component of mathematics education, with many countries incorporating it into their mathematics curriculum. The study of spatial reasoning in the learning areas of geometry presents an essential opportunity for improvement of students within the realm of mathematics education. The purpose of this survey research is to examine middle school students spatial reasoning skills. A study was conducted to analyze the spatial reasoning skills of 947 middle school students. The Spatial Reasoning Test was utilized to assess the sub-components of spatial visualization, spatial orientation, and mental rotation. Based on the results, there was no significant difference between male and female students in relation to their overall test scores. However, a statistically significant difference was observed when analyzing the scores of the sub-components and grade levels. Anticipated outcomes of the investigation are expected to provide support and guidance for the preparation of educational tasks and instruction aimed at enhancing students’ spatial reasoning abilities.