An Investigation of the Relationship Between a Type of Spatial Ability and Two Types of Reading Errors, Symbol Reversals and Letter Interchanges

learning disabilities;symbol reversals;letter reversals;letter interchanges;reading disabilities;reading difficulties;spatial abilities;cognitive disabilities

Schick, Thomas ; Dr. James W. Kalat, Committee Co-Chair,Dr. Samuel Snyder, Committee Co-Chair,Dr. Lynne Baker-Ward, Committee Member,Schick, Thomas ; Dr. James W. Kalat ; Committee Co-Chair ; Dr. Samuel Snyder ; Committee Co-Chair ; Dr. Lynne Baker-Ward ; Committee Member

University:North Carolina State University

关键词: learning disabilities;    symbol reversals;    letter reversals;    letter interchanges;    reading disabilities;    reading difficulties;    spatial abilities;    cognitive disabilities;   

Others  :  https://repository.lib.ncsu.edu/bitstream/handle/1840.16/427/etd.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

美国|英语

来源: null

【 摘 要 】

A substantial percentage of the population suffers from the effects of reading difficulties. These reading difficulties are caused by a wide array of proximate factors, some cognitive in nature, others emotional. This thesis examines whether some proximate factors, which contribute to reading difficulties, may be caused by underlying attributes which coincidentally also may provide strength in other areas of endeavor. One such proximate factor is interchanging letters, reading the word saw when was is indicated. Another such factor, symbol or letter reversing such as reading a b when a d is indicated, is most pronounced before the age of four and substantially decreases, but not entirely, over the next few years. Reversing letters presents a weakness when reading, but it may result from an underlying attribute which, coincidentally, also could underlie strength in spatial relations. This thesis examined the relationship between each factor and one type of spatial ability (mental rotation). It was hypothesized that spatial ability would be positively correlated with (a) frequency of reversals, as well as with, (b) frequency of interchanges. Experimentation was performed to test these hypotheses. The correlations found were not statistically significant. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between frequency of symbol-letter reversals and frequency of letter interchanges. Furthermore, the frequency of these reversals and interchanges were each found to be substantially higher than had been anticipated. These results were especially interesting because they relate to a college population that might have been assumed, for the most part, to be free of such errors. Collectively, further study with a larger sample is needed in order to more fully test the hypotheses.