The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Spatial abilities of expert clinical anatomists: comparison of abilities between novices, intermediates and experts in anatomy

Spatial abilities of expert clinical anatomists: comparison of abilities between novices, intermediates and experts in anatomy
Spatial abilities of expert clinical anatomists: comparison of abilities between novices, intermediates and experts in anatomy
Spatial ability has been found to be a good predictor of success in learning anatomy. However, little research has explored whether spatial ability can be improved through anatomy education and experience. This study had two aims: (1) to determine if spatial ability is a learned or inherent facet in learning anatomy and (2) to ascertain if there is any difference in spatial ability between experts and novices in anatomy. Fifty participants were identified: 10 controls, 10 novices, 10 intermediates, and 20 experts. Participants completed four computerized spatial ability tasks, a visual mental rotation task, categorical spatial judgment task, metric spatial task, and an image-scanning task. The findings revealed that experts (P = 0.007) and intermediates (P = 0.016) were better in the metric spatial task than novices in terms of making more correct spatial judgments. Experts (P = 0.033), intermediates (P = 0.003), and novices (P = 0.004) were better in the categorical spatial task than controls in terms of speed of responses. These results suggest that certain spatial cognitive abilities are especially important and characteristic of work needed in clinical anatomy, and that education and experience contribute to further development of these abilities.
anatomical sciences, medical education, anatomy education, computers in anatomy education, spatial abilities, mental rotation
1935-9772
1-8
Fernandez, Ruth
5b4f9d78-950a-47dc-8587-50e0b88c060c
Dror, Itiel E.
4d907da2-0a2e-41ed-b927-770a70a35c71
Smith, Claire
b696bc5f-7e48-4506-82d8-82e51f258d4c
Fernandez, Ruth
5b4f9d78-950a-47dc-8587-50e0b88c060c
Dror, Itiel E.
4d907da2-0a2e-41ed-b927-770a70a35c71
Smith, Claire
b696bc5f-7e48-4506-82d8-82e51f258d4c

Fernandez, Ruth, Dror, Itiel E. and Smith, Claire (2011) Spatial abilities of expert clinical anatomists: comparison of abilities between novices, intermediates and experts in anatomy. Anatomical Sciences Education, 4 (1), 1-8. (doi:10.1002/ase.196). (PMID:21265030)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Spatial ability has been found to be a good predictor of success in learning anatomy. However, little research has explored whether spatial ability can be improved through anatomy education and experience. This study had two aims: (1) to determine if spatial ability is a learned or inherent facet in learning anatomy and (2) to ascertain if there is any difference in spatial ability between experts and novices in anatomy. Fifty participants were identified: 10 controls, 10 novices, 10 intermediates, and 20 experts. Participants completed four computerized spatial ability tasks, a visual mental rotation task, categorical spatial judgment task, metric spatial task, and an image-scanning task. The findings revealed that experts (P = 0.007) and intermediates (P = 0.016) were better in the metric spatial task than novices in terms of making more correct spatial judgments. Experts (P = 0.033), intermediates (P = 0.003), and novices (P = 0.004) were better in the categorical spatial task than controls in terms of speed of responses. These results suggest that certain spatial cognitive abilities are especially important and characteristic of work needed in clinical anatomy, and that education and experience contribute to further development of these abilities.

This record has no associated files available for download.

More information

Published date: January 2011
Keywords: anatomical sciences, medical education, anatomy education, computers in anatomy education, spatial abilities, mental rotation

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 174877
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/174877
ISSN: 1935-9772
PURE UUID: 50a5c4b2-403f-40b1-b3b7-f010134df24e

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 17 Feb 2011 15:22
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:35

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: Ruth Fernandez
Author: Itiel E. Dror
Author: Claire Smith

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×