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
1-8
Fernandez, Ruth
5b4f9d78-950a-47dc-8587-50e0b88c060c
Dror, Itiel E.
4d907da2-0a2e-41ed-b927-770a70a35c71
Smith, Claire
b696bc5f-7e48-4506-82d8-82e51f258d4c
January 2011
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), .
(doi:10.1002/ase.196).
(PMID:21265030)
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.
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Published date: January 2011
Keywords:
anatomical sciences, medical education, anatomy education, computers in anatomy education, spatial abilities, mental rotation
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Local EPrints ID: 174877
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/174877
ISSN: 1935-9772
PURE UUID: 50a5c4b2-403f-40b1-b3b7-f010134df24e
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Date deposited: 17 Feb 2011 15:22
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:35
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Author:
Ruth Fernandez
Author:
Itiel E. Dror
Author:
Claire Smith
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