Place of Gender Role and Picture Interaction in the Process of Mental Rotation - Research Paper Example

? Psychology: Mental Rotation (Cognition) This research project is focused on the issue of mental rotation. On the basis of laboratory report conducted on the basis of mental rotation experiment with 114 participants (24 males and 90 females) involved, two hypotheses were suggested. In accordance with the first hypothesis, the interaction between a picture and rotation was observed. This is an atypical tendency and it is interesting to clarify such kind of conclusion. The second hypothesis was formed on the basis of different reaction and performance of mental rotation tasks. Therefore, this requires additional clarifications in order to determine the role gender plays in mental rotation problems solving. On the basis of theoretical framework based on studies ranging from 70s till nowadays, there is made an attempt to consider mental rotation tasks in relation to gender differences. Another important aspect of this research project is that in the process of experiment, participants’ reaction as the whole focus group and their reactions as males or females were not mainly differentiated from one another. Therefore, there is a holistic approach applied for participant. Thus, the issue of gender difference occurred in the process of experiment is of an objective nature, because initially there was no an intention to show the difference between males and females reactions in the process of mental rotation experiments. Introduction Experiments on mental rotation are supported by the scientists and researchers as a way to reveal human cognitive abilities. Cognitive science received a positive basis for its further successful development in the process of mental rotation experiments performance. Mental rotation refers to “the process of imagining an object rotated into a different orientation in space” (Cooper, 1975). In the beginning of 70s experiments in mental rotation had the following advantages for cognitive science development: mental imagery was considered in terms of subjective and qualitative study though it was later shown that it is possible to consider it as an objective and quantitative study. Moreover, experiments in mental rotation resulted in revelation of analog nature between mental processes with physical processes. In accordance with Albert Einstein, it should be noted that "visualizing … effects, consequences, and possibilities" by means of "more or less clear images which can be ‘voluntarily’ reproduced and combined" (Shepard & Cooper, 1982). With this respect, it is relevant to consider a spatial visualization. It is important to notice that in order to perceive spatial information an individual has to take up several steps. Terlecki, Newcombe & Little (1998) defines 3 stages of spatial development. The first stage implies recognition of an object and its closeness to other objects. On the second stage the development of projective spatial skills is in progress. In other words, a perception of an object rotated from different views in space takes place. Once an object is rotated in a space, it may be difficult to recognize this object in space for different genders and age groups. On the third stage visualization of concepts of area occurs. Moreover, on the same stage occur the abilities to perceive volume, distance, rotation and reflection. Therefore, laboratory experiment considered in this research project is focused on males/females behavior in the process of mental rotation experiment. Basically, gender differences are not usually considered as determinant factors in mental rotation problems solving. Still, in other studies males are considered to be more responsive to mental rotation tasks. Methods This experiment is based on classical principles of mental rotation experiments, though the structure is more complicated than in the mental rotation experiments considered above. Internal subjects variables are: picture type (same vs. mirror) and rotation (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120 degrees), and intermediary subject variable Gender (Male vs. Female). For data analysis, SPSS was used to conduct a Repeated Measures ANOVA. Data collected for the experiment is based on 114 participants (90 females and 24 males). Dependent variable is angle of rotation (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120). Tests conducted are: multivariate tests (intercept+gender); Mauchly’s test of sphericity; tests of within-subjects effects; tests of within subjects’ contrasts; tests of between subjects’ effects. Results A repeated measures ANOVA was conducted on 114 participants (90 females and 24 males) to perform mental rotation experiment. Dependent variable is angle of rotation (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120). Tests conducted are: multivariate tests (intercept+gender); Mauchly’s test of sphericity; tests of within-subjects effects; tests of within subjects’ contrasts; tests of between subjects’ effects. In the result of experiment it was found out that there was no significant effect of Gender though Gender interacted with picture with a slight suggestion of a 3-way interaction. In the process of rotation of 2 pictures the mean perception of picture rotation and the highest level of interaction between Gender and picture were defined among Males than Females. – The results of the experiment signify that unlike previous studies, a gender difference factor can be a third variable in the analyzing mental rotation experiments. This witnesses the fact that males can more effectively to solve problems. Nevertheless, it is possible to underline that there is no gender bias in this findings, because this hypothesis is often neglected by the researches in this field. Results Basically, the results reached in the process of the experiment on mental rotation, are focused on analyzing participants’ reaction as the whole focus group and their reactions as males or females were not mainly differentiated from one another. The following conclusions were made: a significance of picture type; the effect of rotation and interaction between these two factors. Therefore, it is relevant to discuss these results with regard to a theoretical framework explaining this phenomenon. In order to prove efficiency of our research results, we will refer to the well-known theoretical framework. The effect of interaction between picture type and rotation is discussed in the research conducted by Kosslyn et al., 1998, Palmer, 1999 and other. An interrelation between a type of a picture and rotation is explained in the following terms: “If an increment of time is required for each degree of angular disparity, participants can be assumed to perform such tasks by mentally rotating an object as if it were moving through the intermediate positions along a trajectory, as would occur if the object were physically rotated” (Cooper & Shepard, 1973). With this regard it can be claimed that mental images are common to picture like representations. Therefore, a type of picture changes and rotation changes, which implies that physical rotation of objects, is not a dominant factor in mental rotation (Cooper & Shepard, 1973). A difference of stimuli triggering mental rotation is usually ascribed to different viewing angles. Analogue rotation hypothesis suggested by Cooper & Shepard (1973) may be also relevant to our research. In other words, the order complies with the supposition that a figure rotates through space. Therefore, from this perspective it is relevant to claim that “the relationship between the stimulus representation and the physical world” (Woodman, Vogel, and Luck, 2001) refers to the processing of stimulus in mental rotation. Consequently, mental rotation is considered from the perspective of object rotation when it is visually being rotated. Another piece of conclusion to be considered is the greater rotation, the slower RT is. In our experiment it was discovered that there appears to have been no effect of rotation with the different pictures. With this regard it is relevant to restore in our memories studies conducted by Terlecki, Newcombe & Little (2008). They compared individual memory rotation task performance and group performance of this kind of tasks. The fact that differences of perception occurred between males and females can be explained in the following way: “when the visual search task was performed during the retention interval of this working memory task, the efficiency of the search process was not impaired in comparison with when the visual search task was performed alone” (Terlecki, Newcombe & Little, 2008). Moreover, from this perspective, RTs were increased in the process of visual search tasks. Woodman and Luck (2004) underlined that spatial working memory works for avoidance of returning to the items that were already recognized (as it is cited in the study by Finke & Pinker, 1982). Furthermore, our finding corresponds to the main claim that “the rotation process should be slower and/or less accurate when it is performed during the retention interval of the working memory task than when it is performed alone” (Finke & Pinker, 1982). With the increase of rotation, a progress of the working memory task is quicker. Another conclusion reached in the process of the study is that there was an essential interaction between gender and picture. Males were half more progressive in picture differentiation in comparison with females. In previous researches it was also concluded that rotation is more quickly perceived by men than women (Heil & Jansen-Osmann, 2008). Therefore, sex difference chosen as a third determinant factor in our experiment. Moreover, Moore and Johnson (2008) underlined that even infants who were 5 months distinguished between different objects and reacted to their mirror images in comparison to girls. A hypothesis can be suggested that males react quicker in the process of mental rotation task performance than women. This hypothesis can be questioned, because more often women are supposed to be accurate and able to manage their time in the process of task performance. Though the number of women involved in the experiment is greater than the number of men, the former were more neutral in the process of task performance, while the latter were more enthusiastic. Discussion A literature review on mental rotation provides us with interesting facts about relationship between mental cognition and a role of gender. Numerous researches and studies were focused on this issue Metzler & Shepard (1974), Moore, D. S., & Johnson (2008). In order to evaluate cognitive abilities of men and women, it is relevant to consider numerous factors influencing on their perception of pictures. It has often been claimed that the main differences between males and females can be traced with regard to speed they need for solving mental rotation problems or a level of accuracy of their task performance. It is concluded in the study conducted by Caplan, MacPherson & Tobin (1985): “in summary, sex differences in mental rotation appear to be highly specific to the type of task and the gender expectations that it elicits. At this point, it is not clear how much of this sex difference in mental rotation performance can be ascribed to gender-based expectations that are situationally specific, or whether more permanent differences in skill are also involved” (Caplan, MacPherson & Tobin, 1985). From this statement, it is quite clear that gender differences in mental rotation are often questioned. In the currently conducted research it is supposed that males perform better in cognitive tasks performance than females do. A current research project takes into account both paradigms, which underline or neglect the importance of gender differences in cognitive tasks. Therefore, sex differences are considered as an intermediary subject variable in this research project. It is relevant to take gender difference factor as a relevant factor, because: “Sex is a salient social category, and distinctions that are based upon sex affect everything from the ability to remember who said what to how competent another person is perceived to be” (Heil & Jansen-Osmann, 2008). This choice can be justified from perspective of biological studies. Though it may be supposed that the main changes occurred in gender system and not in biology and thus gender system may seem to be unreliable factor for the research. A spatial visualization is often considered in relation with gender-type social roles. A prevalence of male performance over female performance in cognitive problem solving has been studied by Nash (1975) and it was discovered that “a male gender preference proved to be positively related to spatial performance: boys who preferred to be boys produced higher scores than boys who would prefer to be girls, and girls who would prefer to be boys produced higher scores than girls who preferred to be girls” (Metzler & Shepard, 1974). Therefore, on a cognitive level boys are aware of their dominance over girls. Male roles in the society prevail over female roles and this factor made boys to choose their gender roles. Thus, spatial performance may be better both among males or females; it depends on boys/girls attitude to their gender roles. The most recognized paradigm of mental rotation problem solving is based on the studies conducted by Schwartz & Black, Terlecki, Newcombe, & Little, Moore & Johnson and others who underlined the absence of differences between males and females in mental rotation problem solving. These researchers provided a focused group of experiment with 13 common illusions. Unlike this group of scientists, Caplan, MacPherson & Tobin, P. (1985), who were focused on a single illusion “the Baldwin illusion”, male dominance over female cognitive ability was supported by Hegarty (2004). The issue of gender differences was discussed by Heil & Jansen-Osmann (2008) when he was focused on “the Ponzo illusion”. The latter researchers started to differentiate the way magnitude could influence on simple and complex representation of the Ponzo illusion. The study conducted by Caplan et al (1985) is accounted for the studies on gender differences, which may occur in the result of the illusion perception. Basically, the discussion about the importance of mental rotation should not be focused on gender differences only. It is more relevant to focus on analyzing cognitive abilities of both males and females in order to penetrate into the depth of the human minds abilities of mental operations. Human ability to manipulate objects in their cognition is the main goal of such mental rotation experiments. In accordance with Shepard and Metzler (1971), who are considered to be initiators of such kind of researches, spatial representations were discussed and it was found out that mental rotation is analogous to physical rotations of actual physical objects. This experiment should be discussed in detail, because unlike of further more complicated experiments on mental rotation, this one is distinguished by its simplicity and it can be claimed that results reached by the scientists would be continued in a current research project. Shepard and Metzler asked participants of the experiment to determine “whether two three-dimensional block figures, presented in different orientations, were the same or different. Results indicated that response time increased linearly as the angular difference in the orientation of the two block figures (ranging from 0 to 180 degrees) increased” (Shepard and Metzler, 1971). Consequently, it is possible to claim that the scientists reached results showing that participants rotated a figure in their minds likewise they did in the process of physical rotation. Further on, the results of this study were complemented by other findings and 3D objects were substituted by 2 dimensional objects, or random letters, or shapes. From another perspective, a scope of mental rotation experiments has extended to imagery. Such kind of experiments allows analyzing cognitive abilities of humans even to a greater extent. This experiment differs from mental rotation experiment in the following terms: in the latter experiment, participants view pictures of the stimuli in the process of rotation; in the former experiment it is suggested that humans have to cognize objects, which are not physically present. “In mental rotation experiments, participants typically view pictures of the stimuli during the rotation process. However, research investigating the use of mental representations of physical objects has extended to imagery which involves mental pictures of stimuli that are not physically present” (Shepard and Metzler, 1971). In the experiment conducted by Kosslyn (1973) participants viewed an object, such as a tower or a boat and then they created an image of the objects. Consequently, it was found out that participants were focused on a certain part of an object. Therefore, the main challenge for participants occurred when the object was slowly removed from them. Thus, this type of experiment followed a principle found by Shepard and Mezler (1971) and it was underlined that people scanned mental images or physical objects in the same manner. Another decisive point for a current experiment is that mental images have a descriptive nature. Nevertheless, there are opponents of this supposition who claim that “existing evidence does not preclude the possibility that the format of mental images is propositional (using verbal codes) rather than depictive. Moreover, it has been suggested that results may be influenced by participants' prior knowledge of spatial relationships (the tacit knowledge explanation)” (Terlecki, Newcombe & Little, 2008). Still, a descriptive nature of objects is relevant to consideration about participants’ responsiveness to objects’ perception. Conclusion This research project is focused on the issue of mental rotation. On the basis of laboratory report conducted on the basis of mental rotation experiment with 114 participants (24 males and 90 females) involved, two hypotheses were suggested. This strong bound between these two issues corresponds to the findings made by other cognitivists, such as Cherney (2008), Hegarty (2004) and others, who underlined that gender role and picture interaction takes place in the process of mental rotation. Males are more responsive to mental rotation. Moreover, analog nature of mental rotation and physical abilities refers to a simple manner of problem solving. In the study conducted by Hegarty (2004) it was found out that mechanical problem can be easily solved by manipulations of mental operations. Moreover, in the study conducted by Schwartz and Black (1999) it was concluded that “engaging in mental simulations of actions such as pouring water enhances people's ability to answer questions about the amount of tilt required for containers of different heights and widths” (Schwarts & Black,1999). Performance enhancement among sport players could be also triggered by using mental imagery (Jones & Stuth, 1997). With this respect, it is possible to claim that a current research is another contribution to the development of cognitive science development. Unlike previous studies, laboratory experiment methods involve a gender difference factor as a third variable thus underlining the influence of gender factor on processing of mental rotation experiments. A wider scope of the experiment’s result implementation can be seen as a contribution to medical and social sciences. From the perspective of medicine, it is relevant to analyze physical peculiarities of males’ brains in order to prove a quicker mental processing of the picture in comparison with females. From the perspective of social sciences, a quicker perception of picture by males can be compared to their social roles advantages over female role. Works cited 1. Caplan, P.J., MacPherson, G. M., & Tobin, P. (1985). Do sex-related differences in spatial abilities exist? A multilevel critique with new data. American Psychologist, 40, 786-799. 2. Cherney, I. D. (2008). Mom, let me play more computer games: They improve my mental rotation skills. Sex Roles, 59, 776-786. 3. Cooper, L. A. (1975). Mental rotation of random two-dimensional shapes. Cognitive Psychology, 7, 20-43. 4. Cooper, L. A., & Shepard, R. N. (1973). The time required to prepare for a rotated stimulus. Memory & Cognition, 1, 246-250. 5. Finke, R. A., & Pinker, S. (1982). Spontaneous image scanning in mental extrapolation. 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