The Study of Interrelationship between Spatial Abilities and Van Hiele Levels of Thinking inGeometry of Eighth-Grade Students

Author: Tai-Yih Tso(Department of Mathematics, National Taiwan Normal University), Yung-Nong Liang(Show-Sha Junior High School)

Vol.&No.：Vol. 46, No.1&2
Date：October 2001
Pages：1-20
DOI：10.6300/JNTNU.2001.46.01

Abstract：

This study seeks to determine (a) the interrelationship between spatial abilities and van Hiele levels of thinking in geometry, and (b) the strategies of solving spatial problems of eighth-grade students. The sample consisted of 222 eighth-grade students enrolled at five junior high schools in the Taipei area. The investigations employed quantitative and qualitative methods in correlation statistics to examine the relationship. The analysis showed that a significant correlation existed between students' spatial abilities and van Hiele levels of thinking in geometry. These results suggest that spatial abilities are important cognitive factors in learning geometry and incorporating spatial visualization and manipulation into learning activity could improve geometric learning.

Keywords：spatial ability, van Hiele levels

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