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The impact of spatial skills on problem‐solving parsimony and solution quality in middle childhood.

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Title: The impact of spatial skills on problem‐solving parsimony and solution quality in middle childhood.
Authors: Schäfer, Jonas (AUTHOR), Reuter, Timo (AUTHOR), Leuchter, Miriam (AUTHOR)
Source: British Journal of Developmental Psychology. Nov2025, Vol. 43 Issue 4, p993-1009. 17p.
Subjects: Task performance, Research funding, Cognition in children, Age distribution, Descriptive statistics, Space perception in children, Data analysis software, Problem solving in children
Abstract: Spatial skills are essential cognitive abilities that develop during middle childhood and play a crucial role in solving STEM problems. In this relation, however, important aspects of problem‐solving performance remain underexplored. Consequently, this study investigated whether spatial skills contribute to solution quality and parsimony in problem‐solving. The sample comprised 478 six‐ to eight‐year‐olds (219 female) who completed mental rotation, visuospatial memory and gear‐based problem‐solving tasks. In both problem‐solving tasks, spatial skills were associated with solution quality (β =.27** or.39**, respectively) and partially with the number of operations (β = −.06 or −.16*), indicating higher parsimony. Age was significantly linked to spatial skills and partially to parsimony but not to solution quality. These findings highlight the importance of spatial skills for different aspects of children's STEM‐related problem‐solving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of British Journal of Developmental Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: The impact of spatial skills on problem‐solving parsimony and solution quality in middle childhood.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Schäfer%2C+Jonas%22">Schäfer, Jonas</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Reuter%2C+Timo%22">Reuter, Timo</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Leuchter%2C+Miriam%22">Leuchter, Miriam</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22British+Journal+of+Developmental+Psychology%22">British Journal of Developmental Psychology</searchLink>. Nov2025, Vol. 43 Issue 4, p993-1009. 17p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Task+performance%22">Task performance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+funding%22">Research funding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognition+in+children%22">Cognition in children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Age+distribution%22">Age distribution</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Descriptive+statistics%22">Descriptive statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Space+perception+in+children%22">Space perception in children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis+software%22">Data analysis software</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Problem+solving+in+children%22">Problem solving in children</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Spatial skills are essential cognitive abilities that develop during middle childhood and play a crucial role in solving STEM problems. In this relation, however, important aspects of problem‐solving performance remain underexplored. Consequently, this study investigated whether spatial skills contribute to solution quality and parsimony in problem‐solving. The sample comprised 478 six‐ to eight‐year‐olds (219 female) who completed mental rotation, visuospatial memory and gear‐based problem‐solving tasks. In both problem‐solving tasks, spatial skills were associated with solution quality (β =.27** or.39**, respectively) and partially with the number of operations (β = −.06 or −.16*), indicating higher parsimony. Age was significantly linked to spatial skills and partially to parsimony but not to solution quality. These findings highlight the importance of spatial skills for different aspects of children's STEM‐related problem‐solving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of British Journal of Developmental Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1111/bjdp.12568
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 17
        StartPage: 993
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      – SubjectFull: Task performance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cognition in children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Age distribution
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Descriptive statistics
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      – SubjectFull: Space perception in children
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      – SubjectFull: Data analysis software
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Problem solving in children
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      – TitleFull: The impact of spatial skills on problem‐solving parsimony and solution quality in middle childhood.
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            NameFull: Schäfer, Jonas
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            NameFull: Reuter, Timo
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            – D: 01
              M: 11
              Text: Nov2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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              Value: 43
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