A study of the effect of trainings on spatial visualization and on the cognitive development of college students on their problem-solving ability in mathematics

Date of Publication

1988

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy in Science Education Major in Mathematics

Subject Categories

Mathematics

College

Br. Andrew Gonzalez FSC College of Education

Department/Unit

Science Education

Thesis Adviser

Melecio C. Deauna

Defense Panel Chair

Severino D. Diesto

Defense Panel Member

Elizabeth S. Ong
Flordeliza C. Reyes
Alberto Campos

Abstract/Summary

This study investigates the effects of training on spatial visualization and on the cognitive development, and their interaction, on the problem-solving ability of college students in mathematics, controlling for mental ability. It also develops activities used in training students on spatial visualization. The subjects were four groups of freshmen agriculture students enrolled in College Algebra. One group was trained on spatial visualization, the second group on the cognitive development, the third group on both spatial visualization and the cognitive development, while the fourth group did not receive any formal training. A spatial visualization test, a cognitive development test, a problem-solving test in algebra and a problem-solving test in geometry were given as pretests and posttests. Analyses of covariance, correlation, and t-test for significant differences were applied.

The results also showed that the training on spatial visualization significantly improved the mathematical problem-solving ability of students, particularly in algebra, as well as their spatial visualization ability. On the other, the training on the cognitive development similarly improved significantly the algebraic problem-solving ability, as well as the cognitive ability, of the subjects. However, it was found that there was no significant interaction between the training on spatial visualization and the training on the cognitive development in the prediction of students' achievement in mathematics.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Print

Accession Number

TG01709

Shelf Location

Archives, The Learning Commons, 12F Henry Sy Sr. Hall

Physical Description

188 leaves

Keywords

Space perception; Problem solving

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