Investigating the Effect of Computer's Games on Children's Mental Rotation Ability

This study investigates the effects of computer's games in improving mental rotation ability. The subjects comprised 87 I/• years-old students (41 male and 45 female) who were randomly selected and assignmened in 3 groups (Puzzle games, action games and control group. The experiments were done using an experimental 3 xJ factorial design by pretest-post/es/ control group, and within 8 sections. Mental Rotation was measured by an online rest developed by Chay (2000) based on the Vandenberg and Kuse (I 978). According to the results, males on average performed helter than females in mental rotation ability o.f accuracy, bu/ no difference in speed. The results indicated that gender differences. /11 playing computer's games were decreased. Tetris groups (both male and female ) had higher improvement than another groups and also Navy Seals group (alone male) had improvement than control groups. This appears to be no improvement in reaction limes for mental rotation. Results are discussed by different theories and also within a nature-nurture interaction framework o.f gender differences in spatial abilities