Analysis of Spatial Ability Testing Results and Interior Design Program Success for Female University Students in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This is a longitudinal study where the Interior Design Program at Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University tested 117 incoming first year female students to determine whether spatial ability was a determinant for success in the major.  Their progress in Interior Design studio classes was tracked through graduation.  Although many studies in support of the importance of spatial ability for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors exist, few have longitudinal data and this study focuses on females whose culture and secondary educational experience differs from students in other studies.  Furthermore, the study found that while spatial ability was important for the first three studios that involved technical and hand drawing, it was performance in critical thinking, physics and mathematics that highly correlated with strong performance in later studio classes and overall success in the major.