Sex Differences in Spatial Ability: A Critique

This paper examines the controversy surrounding the two main problem areas of this field. The first problem is the definition and description of spatial ability, there being concern over precisely what is measured by different tests, and the lack of independence of such tests. The second area deals with the aetiology of sex differences in spatial ability. The most compelling current theory, that of a recessive gene influence, has certain anomalies which require additional factors, such as sex-typing or hormonal limitation, to be brought in to complete the explanation, although these too require further clarification. Searching for a cause of sex differences without an understanding of the cognitive strategies involved would seem to be a sterile pursuit, and it is proposed that an analysis of spatial problem solving (e.g. in mental rotation) will shed more light on individual differences, set in the context of genetic and environmental influences.