Cognitive process modeling of spatial ability: The assembling objects task

摘要

Spatial ability tasks appear on many intelligence and aptitude tests. Although the constructvalidity of spatial ability tests has often been studied through traditional correlational methods,such as factor analysis, less is known about the cognitive processes involved in solving testitems. This study examines the cognitive processes involved in the assembling objects taskfound on the Revised Minnesota Paper Form Board Test (RMPFBT), a spatial task in which a testtaker must mentally assemble two-dimensional objects. A two-part study was conducted toexamine the construct validity of these items and to explain how test takers solve assemblingobjects tasks. The first part of the study used quantitative methods to examine the contributionof item characteristics to the difficulty of the item and the response time necessary to solve theitem. The second part of the study utilized an eye-tracking device to qualitatively examine thesteps examinees follow to solve these items. As a result of the second part of this study, a newcognitive processing model is proposed.