dc.contributor.author | Burgoyne, Christine Anne | en_GB |
dc.date.accessioned | 2011-06-21T16:49:52Z | en_GB |
dc.date.accessioned | 2013-03-21T10:32:03Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2010-08-02 | en_GB |
dc.description.abstract | Recent studies have shown that there may be evidence that children with reading difficulties have particular compensatory spatial ability, although the exact spatial ability has not been identified. This study used qualitative and quantitative methods to examine closely two spatial abilities, spatial visualisation (mental rotation from memory) and visual realism (three-dimensional drawing and construction ability) in students with reading problems and students with no problems.
The aim was also to explore the question of whether students with spatial ability and reading problems were encouraged to use these strengths either in or out of school and whether such abilities could be identified in the early years environment. Equally, the question of motivational failure related to possible unrecognised potential, particularly in the area of non-verbal/spatial ability was also examined. This study used longitudinal case studies with five children and their mothers over a period of ten years. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using a grounded theory approach. Researcher observations as the teacher of the five children in their primary years provided additional evidence of their reading and spatial abilities at an early age. In addition, the study uses a Further Education College survey that examines spatial ability and reading problems in 133 post-16 year olds that provides the quantitative element of the study providing evidence about students with spatial abilities and their career choices.
The data analysis revealed that the five case studies had largely overcome their reading problems due to early intervention strategies for reading together with encouragement and support outside school for their spatial abilities. Additionally, they have pursued careers, which for the most part, uses their spatial skills. The data analysis of the College survey showed that the link between spatial ability and reading problems was less secure, although there were a number of students with Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) who had high spatial abilities and this proved to be important from the point of view of identifying strengths alongside weakness in literacy, particularly in the early years at school.
Early identification and acknowledgement of spatial ability as a perceived strength and used to support learning, as opposed to identification of reading problems, a perceived deficit, proved to be a key finding of the research. | en_GB |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10036/3150 | en_GB |
dc.language.iso | en | en_GB |
dc.publisher | University of Exeter | en_GB |
dc.subject | Combined research methodology | en_GB |
dc.subject | Qualitative individual case studies | en_GB |
dc.subject | Quantitative Further Education College survey | en_GB |
dc.subject | 3-D spatial visualisation spatial skills | en_GB |
dc.subject | 3-D visual realism skills | en_GB |
dc.subject | Reading problems | en_GB |
dc.subject | Early play and construction tasks | en_GB |
dc.subject | Assessment of spatial ability in the early years | en_GB |
dc.subject | Strong spatial ability and reading problems in the early years | en_GB |
dc.subject | Early years | en_GB |
dc.subject | Identifying spatial ability alongside reading problems | en_GB |
dc.subject | Motivation and self-esteem in learning to read | en_GB |
dc.subject | Teachers observing early play and spatial ability | en_GB |
dc.subject | Strengths versus deficit in the early years | en_GB |
dc.subject | Drawing skills | en_GB |
dc.subject | Construction skills | en_GB |
dc.subject | Creative play | en_GB |
dc.subject | 3-D drawing skills | en_GB |
dc.subject | 3-D construction skills | en_GB |
dc.subject | Early play as predictors of spatial ability | en_GB |
dc.subject | Early play as a predictor of career choices | en_GB |
dc.subject | Parents encouraging spatial skills | en_GB |
dc.title | The Importance of Identifying Particular Strengths: Spatial Ability in Pupils who are at Risk of Not Learning to Read. | en_GB |
dc.type | Thesis or dissertation | en_GB |
dc.date.available | 2011-06-21T16:49:52Z | en_GB |
dc.date.available | 2013-03-21T10:32:03Z | |
dc.contributor.advisor | Norwich, Brahm | en_GB |
dc.publisher.department | Graduate School of Education | en_GB |
dc.type.degreetitle | PhD in Education | en_GB |
dc.type.qualificationlevel | Doctoral | en_GB |
dc.type.qualificationname | PhD | en_GB |