Mental rotation and sexual orientation

Mental rotation, a type of visuo-spatial ability, is the ability to imagine a figure rotating in space without verbal mediation. Gender differences in the performance of mental rotation tasks are well documented but the relationship between sexual orientation and mental rotation is uncertain. This study investigates the relationship between gender, sexual orientation and scores of 584 university students on the Vandenberg Mental Rotation Test. A 2 x 2 ANOVA reveals a main effect for gender, a main effect for sexual orientation, and significant interaction between gender and sexual orientation. Mental rotation scores differentiate heterosexual male students from gay male, lesbian, and heterosexual female students. Results are discussed from a cognitive-strategic perspective.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Year

1995

Author dc:creator

• Wade, Patricia Ann

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

https://oasis.library.unlv.edu/rtds/485

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:oasis.library.unlv.edu:rtds-1484