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Spatial ability assessment: an aid to student selection for therapy radiography training

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 August 2006

L. Waywell  and
J. Bogg
L. Waywell
Affiliation:
Clinical Education, Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology, Bebington, Merseyside
J. Bogg
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology, The Whelan Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Abstract

Therapy radiographers require the ability to perceive three-dimensional relationships, in order to position patients correctly for treatment. A test predicting this would therefore be useful during undergraduate selection. This study examines whether therapy radiographers have a greater spatial ability than the general population, and secondly the relationship between spatial and clinical ability.

A correlation design utilised 54 therapy radiographers. Each subject undertook 3 tests: 2 spatial ability tests; WAIS block test (WBT) and Lego block test (LBT), and a clinical set-up (CS). Results indicate that therapy radiographers have a significant higher level of spatial ability, p <0.001, than the general population in the 25–34 year age group. Pearsons correlation of WBT with LBT (r = 0.56, p < 0.0005) demonstrated concurrent validity of the new LBT.

The results suggest therapy radiographers have a higher degree of spatial ability than the general population. A test of spatial ability would therefore be of use to determine potential clinical competency during undergraduate selection. Whilst a potential useful instrument has been identified further research needs to be undertaken in this area as spatial ability is just one factor needed for clinical competence.

Keywords

Clinical competencyspatial abilitystudent selectionWAIS block test
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 1 , Issue 2 , July 1999 , pp. 89 - 95
Copyright
1999 Cambridge University Press

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