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Differences in Spatial Visualization Ability and Vividness of Spatial Imagery Between People with and Without Aphantasia Virginia Commonwealth University VCU Scholars Compass Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 2018 Differences in Spatial Visualization Ability and Vividness of Spatial Imagery Between People With and Without Aphantasia Anita Crowder Virginia Commonwealth University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd Part of the Cognition and Perception Commons, Cognitive Psychology Commons, Educational Psychology Commons, and the Science and Mathematics Education Commons © The Author Downloaded from https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/5599 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at VCU Scholars Compass. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of VCU Scholars Compass. For more information, please contact [email protected]. DIFFERENCES IN SPATIAL VISUALIZATION ABILITY AND VIVIDNESS OF SPATIAL IMAGERY BETWEEN PEOPLE WITH AND WITHOUT APHANTASIA A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Education, Educational Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University by Anita L. Crowder Master of Art (Secondary Mathematics Education), Western Governors University 2012 Bachelor of Science (Systems and Control Engineering), Case Western Reserve University, 1988 Dissertation Chair: Kathleen M. Cauley, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Educational Psychology Foundations of Education Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia September, 2018 Acknowledgment Ever since I was a little girl, I have always been curious. I have loved to hear strangers’ stories, puzzles, and trying to understand how disparate things can fit together in a cohesive whole. For me, the journey is more important than the destination, which is why I do not believe I will ever stop realizing how much I do not know. Never in a million years did I imagine that I would earn my Ph.D, and there are so many people that I need to thank. First, I would like to thank my dissertation committee. Dr. Kathleen Cauley. You have helped me more than you can imagine along the way, offering me insight, help, and advice to push me ahead. I cannot put into words how thankful I am that you have served as my advisor. Dr. James McMillan, thank you for teaching me so much about statistics, and how to be analytical without judgment. Dr. Christine Bae, I so appreciate that you were willing to jump into this crazy dissertation topic with me! I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Adam Zeman, who was amazingly open to a random curious e-mail from a mathematics teacher from across the ocean. Dr. Zeman, your willingness to share your knowledge, expertise, and research on aphantasia has been invaluable. I can only hope that my work can somehow, in some small way, help you further your own. A special note of gratitude must go to Dr. Michael Peters for graciously allowing me to implement the Mental Rotation Test online for the first time. I hope that the results from this study will lead to further investigation of the cognitive processes of people with aphantasia. I would like to express my gratitude to my family. First, my six siblings, Vedoster Ingram, Sherry Vital, Jeffrey Phelps, Ruth McPherson, and Robert Phelps, who cheered me on from afar, always believing that I could accomplish this goal, and never questioning my sanity. I know that our parents, Wilbur and Betty Phelps, would be so proud of all that we have accomplished. I want to especially thank my oldest sister, Dr. Janet Guyden, for sharing her wisdom and experience in taking on doctoral studies at a non-traditional age. To my children - Alexandra, Leah, David, and Sarah – thank you for your love, support, and understanding when I couldn’t pick you up from school or attend an event. Please know that you are my most precious, important accomplishments and I am so proud of all of you. Finally, to my husband Al, the smartest person I know. I could have never done any of this without your constant calm, faith, love and support. I love you so much, and I hope that one day I can return the favor. ii Table of Contents Acknowledgment ............................................................................................................................ ii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... iii List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. vi List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... vii Abstract ........................................................................................................................................ viii Chapter One: Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................................................ 3 Context of the Study .................................................................................................................... 4 Study Rationale ........................................................................................................................... 5 Conceptual Framework ............................................................................................................... 7 Research Questions ..................................................................................................................... 8 Definition of Terms ..................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter Two: Literature Review .................................................................................................. 11 Summary of Search Methodology............................................................................................. 11 Visualization.............................................................................................................................. 12 Object and Spatial Visualization ............................................................................................... 15 Cognitive psychology ............................................................................................................ 16 Neuroscience ......................................................................................................................... 20 Object vs. Spatial Visualization Ability ................................................................................ 21 Measurement ......................................................................................................................... 22 Visualization and Mathematics ................................................................................................. 27 Aphantasia ................................................................................................................................. 34 Summary of Literature .............................................................................................................. 36 Chapter Three: Research Method ................................................................................................. 38 Research Design ........................................................................................................................ 38 Instruments ................................................................................................................................ 43 Demographic survey .............................................................................................................. 43 VVIQ ..................................................................................................................................... 44 VOSIQ ................................................................................................................................... 44 MRT....................................................................................................................................... 45 iii Implementation.......................................................................................................................... 46 Piloting and Testing .................................................................................................................. 47 Procedure ................................................................................................................................... 48 Participants ................................................................................................................................ 51 Data Analysis Steps ................................................................................................................... 52 Chapter Four: Results ................................................................................................................... 56 Descriptive Statistics ................................................................................................................. 56 Group Demographic Differences .............................................................................................. 58 Vividness of Mental Imagery .................................................................................................... 59 Object Imagery .....................................................................................................................
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