THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NEUROPERCEPTUAL SKILLS AND LATER MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT (PREDICTION, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL)
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between neuroperceptual ability and later mathematics achievement in 5- and 6-year-old children. Two groups of children were followed over the course of two years. Sample 1 consisted of 58 6-year-old children who were given SEARCH. Approximately 2 years later, 45 of these students were given the California Achievement Test (CAT): Mathematics. SEARCH was also administered to a second sample of 70 5-year-old children. Approximately 2 years later, 55 of these youngsters were given the CAT: Mathematics. The SEARCH test, developed by Silver and Hagin (1981) was incorporated as the scanning measure of neuroperceptual ability. This instrument includes four cluster areas of neuroperceptual ability (Visual Perception, Auditory, Intermodal, and Body Image). The CAT: Mathematics (computation, concepts/applications and total score) was included in the present study as a measure of mathematics achievement. The Gates-MacGinitie Test was used as a measure of reading achievement. Data were analyzed using means, standard deviations, and t-test statistics to assess mean score differences between sexes. Correlation analysis was used to determine interrelationships between the variables. Multiple regression analysis pinpointed specific cluster variables which predicted mathematics achievement and those which predicted reading achievement. Results indicated that there was a relationship between early neuroperceptual ability and later mathematics achievement. The degree of the relationship was even stronger when the SEARCH instrument was administered to 6-year-olds than when administered to 5-year-olds. In addition, the four neuroperceptual modality clusters significantly contributed to the prediction of mathematics achievement. Different clusters predicted the different types of mathematics achievement. This was seen across age (i.e., for 5- and 6-year-olds) and across sex. The one exception was 5-year-old boys. No neuroperceptual modality cluster contributed to the prediction of mathematics achievement for 5-year-old boys. Finally, the same clusters predicted reading achievement and mathematics achievement with the exception of Body Image cluster which predicted only mathematics achievement. Therefore, it was concluded that perhaps the same instrument (i.e., SEARCH) or at least part of this instrument could be used to predict both reading and mathematics achievement.
Subject Area
Educational psychology|Mathematics education
Recommended Citation
HABER, BARBARA BRAUDE, "THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NEUROPERCEPTUAL SKILLS AND LATER MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT (PREDICTION, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL)" (1985). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI8600086.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI8600086
