Spatial Skills and Demographic Factors in CS1

Abstract

Motivation Prior studies have established that training spatial skills may improve outcomes in computing courses. Very few of these studies have, however, explored the impact of spatial skills training on women or examined its relationship with other factors commonly explored in the context of academic performance, such as socioeconomic background and self-efficacy.Objectives In this study, we report on a spatial skills intervention deployed in a computer programming course (CS1) in the first year of a post-secondary program. We explore the relationship between various demographic factors, course performance, and spatial skills ability at both the beginning and end of the term. Methods Data was collected using a combination of demographic surveys, existing self-efficacy and CS1 content instruments, and the Revised PVST:R spatial skills assessment. Spatial skills were evaluated both at the beginning of the term and at the end, after spatial skills training was provided. Results While little evidence was found to link spatial skills to socioeconomic status or self-efficacy, both gender identity and previous experience in computing were found to be correlated to spatial skills ability at the start of the course. Women initially recorded lower spatial skills ability, but after training, the distribution of spatial skills scores for women approached that of men. Discussion These findings suggest that, if offered early enough, spatial skills training may be able to remedy some differences in background that impact performance in computing courses. CCS CONCEPTS• Social and professional topics → Computing education.

A Global Overview of SVA—Spatial–Visual Ability

“…Another recent inquiry determined the effectiveness of an online spatial-skills training program via the Revised PSVT:R [33]. In the context of freshmen studying computer programming, the online program was noted to be effective at boosting spatial abilities, primarily for students identified as having a spatial-skills deficiency by a preliminary screening for spatial ability [55].…”

Exploring Models and Theories of Spatial Skills in CS through a Multi-National Study

“…Parkinson & Cutts discovered that there was a correlation between spatial skills and exam scores in a CS0 cohort [29] and separately with a test of expression evaluation [31]. Ly et al also observed correlations between spatial skills and final module grades in a CS1 cohort [19]. The correlation between spatial skills and various forms of CS assessment and success has, therefore, been explored in many areas.…”

“…These results indicate that there is an increase in spatial skills across semester 1 and the full year which is unlikely to be a false positive, but the minimal gains across semester 2 are much more likely to be due to a false positive based on the high p-value. [19]. To determine whether this applied in computing instruction, gains were calculated for the first semester for all students with enough data by subtracting their PSVT:R 1 score from their PSVT:R 2 score.…”

“…To determine whether this applied in computing instruction, gains were calculated for the first semester for all students with enough data by subtracting their PSVT:R 1 score from their PSVT:R 2 score. Based on the PSVT:R 1, students from all institutions were grouped Sorby's three categories: Low (scoring 0-18 in the PSVT:R), Mid (19)(20)(21) and High (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30). A Kruskal-Wallis test was then conducted with the students' gain data grouped by their categories.…”

Practice report

“…In this study, students were given a pre-and post-test in spatial skills. Of 668 students enrolled in the CS1 module, for this study can be found in work by Ly et al [6].…”