Subcomponents of visuospatial working memory: Investigating the importance of order in sequential recall and its relationship with mathematics performance

Allen, Katie

Abstract

Visuospatial working memory (VSWM) is responsible for storing and manipulating visual and spatial information. Its predictive relationship with mathematics performance in children is well known, especially in younger children. Research has so far not investigated the role of order during recall in sequential tasks, following its subdivision into simultaneous and sequential VSWM. This paper investigates this, in order to determine its predictive power in predicting likely mathematics performance. Children (n=204) performed a battery of WM tasks, including those drawing on both visuospatial and phonological WM, followed by a standardised mathematics test. The data showed significant differences in the number of items recalled in each task, as well as significant correlations between many of the variables. Measuring did not correlate with simultaneous VSWM or block recall, nor did shape correlate significantly with block recall. The results will be further analysed to investigate more intricate relationships present within the data.

Citation

Allen, K. (2019, December). Subcomponents of visuospatial working memory: Investigating the importance of order in sequential recall and its relationship with mathematics performance. Presented at Imagining Better Education, Durham, England

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Conference Name: Imagining Better Education
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: Mar 15, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 15, 2019
• Pages: 1-10
• Series Title: Imagining Better Education
• Book Title: Imagining Better Education: Conference Proceedings 2018.
• ISBN: 9780907552154
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1142600
• Publisher URL: https://www.dur.ac.uk/education/