Mental Rotation in Children from Ivory Coast and Switzerland

Abstract

This research studies mental rotation in different cultural groups. An experiment is described in which 72 pupils from Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and 79 from Matran (Switzerland) responded to a computerized mental rotation task. When compared to classical studies, results show, for both groups, similar patterns of reaction times (RTs) across degrees of rotation. RTs, however, are significantly longer in Ivorean children, and for the Swiss (only) they decrease with age. Results do not entirely match the postulated linearity of the relationship between reaction time and degree of rotation, in particular at 30 and 330 degrees, for which RTs are longer than expected. Data also show that incorrect answers do not occur randomly, suggesting that the widely used criterion of RT based on correct responses only should be reconsidered. No gender differences were found.

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