Block Design as a Measure of Everyday Spatial Ability: A Study of Ecological Validity
Abstract
This study investigated the effectiveness of the WAIS–R Block Design subtest to predict everyday spatial ability for 65 university undergraduates (15 men, 50 women) who were administered Block Design, the Standardized Road Map Test of Direction Sense, and the Everyday Spatial Activities Test. In addition, the verbally loaded National Adult Reading Test was administered to assess whether the more visuospatial Block Design subtest was a better predictor of spatial ability. Moderate support was found. When age and sex were accounted for, Block Design accounted for 36% of the variance in performance ( r = -.62) on the Road Map Test and 19% of the variance on the performance of the Everyday Spatial Activities Test ( r = .42). In contrast, the scores on the National Adult Reading Test did not predict performance on the Road Map Test or Everyday Spatial Abilities Test. This suggests that, with appropriate caution, Block Design could be used as a measure of everyday spatial abilities.
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In contrast with Foulkes' study, no correlation between visuospatial abilities (measured through the Block Design Subset - WISC-IV) and the number of recalled dreams has been found, even when a possible moderating effect of age was controlled.
“In contrast with Foulkes’ study,2–4 no correlation between visuospatial abilities (measured through the Block Design Subset – WISC-IV)76,77 and the number of recalled dreams has been found, even when a possible moderating effect of age was controlled.”
From Spotlight on dream recall: the ages of dreams (2018) · cites this paper as [77]
The best predictor of dream recall in children was the Block Design Test, a reliable measure of visuospatial and organizational skills.
“the best predictor of dream recall was the Block Design Test (subtest of the Weschsler Intelligence Scale for Children [WISC])76 which is known to be a reliable measure of visuospatial and organizational skills.76,77”
From Spotlight on dream recall: the ages of dreams (2018) · cites this paper as [77]
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Method
- Authors
- Groth-Marnat, G., & Teal, M.
- Affiliations
- Curtin-University of Technology
- Curtin University (AU)
- Venue
- Perceptual and Motor Skills
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2000-04
- Volume
- 90
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 522-526
- ISSN
- 0031-5125 (ISSN-L)
- 1558-688X
- OpenAlex
- W2069724379
- Cited by
- 64
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 2.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Perceptual and Motor Skills (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Automotive Engineering › Spatial Cognition and Navigation
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Social Sciences › Geography, Planning and Development › Geography Education and Pedagogy
- Keywords
- Block Design subtest, WAIS-R, ecological validity, visuospatial ability, verbal ability, undergraduate students
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Orientation, Problem Solving, Psychometrics, Psychomotor Performance, Reading, Space Perception, Wechsler Scales, Reproducibility of Results
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