Santa Barbara Solids Test
FREE for use with an Inquisit Lab or Inquisit Web license.Background
The Santa Barbara Solids Test (SBST) is a psychometric measure of cross-sectioning ability, a subdomain of spatial reasoning. It was published by Cheryl A. Cohen and Mary Hegarty in 2012 as an ability test for spatial visualization skills in a normal population to use as a predictor for academic success in STEM fields. Specifically the test assesses people’s ability to imagine and identify 2D cross-sections of complex 3D geometric objects. The Millisecond implementation provides a computerized adaptation of the test with automatic performance scoring and response speed assessment.
Task Procedure
During a sequence of trials, a participant sees a 3D shape that is can be cut in three cutting planes (horizonal, vertical, or oblique). Four response options are provided that depict possible solutions of the visible cross section, and the participant is asked to click on/touch the correct one. There is no time limit for the selection. Feedback is provided during practice trials only.
What it Measures
The Santa Barbara Solids Test (SBST) is a cognitive assessment tool of cross-sectioning ability, a subdomain of spatial reasoning.
Psychological domains
- Visuospatial Ability: Active manipulation of visual and spatial information
- Spatial Working Memory: Ability to mentally encode, manipulate, and transform representations of complex objects
- Penetrative Cognition Skills: Ability to infer the internal structure of solid objects based on external visual cues
Main Performance Metrics
- Accuracy: Number of correct (error) responses/Proportion Correct (Incorrect) Responses/ Percent Correct (incorrect) Responses
- Error Types: Number of errors made that point to particular underlying reasoning errors (such as 'egocentrism')
- Decision Speed: Response times (in ms) of correct responses
Psychiatric Conditions
The SBST is designed for assessment of spatial reasoning in a normal population of college students. High SBST performance tends to be correlated with successful outcomes in the following STEM areas:
- Geology: Visualizing internal rock formations.
- Medicine/Dentistry: Interpreting cross-sectional images like MRIs and X-rays.
- Engineering
- Geometry
Available Test Variations
The Santa Barbara Solids Test as developed by Cohen & Hagarty (2012) in which participatns identify which shapes represent cross sections of a three dimensional object.
References
Search Google Scholar for peer-reviewed, published research using the Inquisit Santa Barbara Solids Test.
Cohen, C. A. & Hegarty, M. (2012). Inferring cross sections of 3D objects: A new spatial thinking test. Learning and Individual Differences, 22(6), 868-874.