The Interplay between Achievement Scores in Math Ability, Visual Working Memory, and Perceptual Reasoning across Race in an Adult Population

Author(s)

D'Shawn L. Harrigan, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Kayla Kotalik, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Brittny Arias, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Charles Golden, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Poster

Publication Title

Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology

ISSN

0887-6177

Publication Date

9-2021

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study is to measure the associations between overall math ability, visual working memory, and perceptual reasoning.

Method

Data stemmed from an ongoing de-identified database aof clinical adults. Participants were administered the WAIS-IV, KM-3, and WMS-IV. The sample consisted of Caucasians (N = 671, M_edu = 14,45.7% males & 52.5% females), African Americans (N = 154, M_edu = 13, 43.5% males & 56.5% females), and Hispanic (N = 194, M_edu = 13,44.8% males & 53.6% females). Participant’s age ranged from 16 to 81, with a mean of 31.06.

Results

The analysis corrected for age, education, and gender. The relationship between PR and KM-3 was 0.505 for Caucasians, 0.782 for African Americans, and 0.769 for Hispanics, all p < 0.05. A Fisher Z transformation indicated significance on PR and KM-3 between Caucasians and Hispanics, p < 0.001. The relationship between KM-3 and VWM was 0.408 for Caucasians, 0.828 for African Americans, and 0.591 for Hispanics, all p < 0.05. A Fisher Z transformation indicated significance on KM-3 and VWM between Caucasians and African Americans, p = 0.020. The relationship between KM-3 and VP was 0.349 for Caucasians, 0.584 for African Americans, and.733 for Hispanics, all p < 0.05. A Fisher Z transformation indicated significance on KM-3 and VP between Caucasians and Hispanics, p = 0.04.

Discussion

Closer analysis of performance between race reveals statistically stronger associations between mathematical ability and perceptual/memory tasks that are visuo-constructional in nature for African Americans and Hispanics when compared to Caucasians. The findings of this study may allude to different approach’s African Americans and Hispanics may use (e.g., mental rotation) when solving mathematical computations.

DOI

10.1093/arclin/acab062.65

Volume

36

Issue

6

NSUWorks Citation

Harrigan, D. L., Kotalik, K., Arias, B., Golden, C. (2021). The Interplay between Achievement Scores in Math Ability, Visual Working Memory, and Perceptual Reasoning across Race in an Adult Population. Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 36(6).
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/1959