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Table 3 Measures used along with number of questions, and example question, and range of responses

From: Elementary teachers’ attitudes and beliefs about spatial thinking and mathematics

Measures

Questions

Example question

Responses

Spatial competency

15

How would you do?

Finding your way to an appointment in an unfamiliar areas of a city or town

1 = Terribly

5 = Very well

 (8 navigation-related from Lawton, 1994)

 (7 everyday spatial tasks)

Spatial anxiety

15

How would you feel?

Following visual directions to put “assembly required” furniture (e.g., Ikea) together

1 = Not at all anxious

5 = Very anxious

 (8 navigation-related from Lawton, 1994)

 (7 everyday spatial tasks)

Anxiety about teaching mathematics

12

Rate how much anxiety you experience:

Looking through the pages in your math series teacher’s manual

1 = Low anxiety

5 = High anxiety

 (Hadley & Dorward, 2011)

Mathematics belief instrument, Part B or “NCTM alignment” (Hart, 2002)

12

Respond with your beliefs about the truthfulness of the statement:

Some people are good at mathematics and some aren’t

1 = True

4 = False

Mathematics belief instrument, Part C or “Math efficacy” (Hart, 2002)

2

Respond with your beliefs about the truthfulness of the statement:

I am very good at (teaching/learning) mathematics

1 = True

4 = False

Most recent math course

1

Recall the last course you took in math and when you completed it

1 = High school

4 = Graduate school

Spatial-thinking involvement

1

How much did your last math course involve spatial thinking?

1 = No spatial thinking

4 = Substantial amount

Competency in spatial aspects

1

Rate how you handled the spatial aspects of your last math course

1 = I failed

4 = I excelled

Teaching difficulty

12

How difficult is it for you to teach the math concept(s) involved in this problem?

1 = Very difficult

5 = Very easy

Visualization helpfulness

12

How helpful do you think creating and/or using visualization(s) could be in answering this math problem?

1 = Not at all helpful

5 = Very helpful

Spatial-thinking involvement

12

How much spatial thinking do you think could be involved in answering this math problem?

1 = No spatial thinking

4 = Substantial amount

  1. NCTM National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards