Types of visual-spatial representations and mathematical problem solving

Although visual-spatial representations are used extensively in mathematics and spatial ability is highly correlated with success in mathematics educa tion, research to date has not demonstrated a clear relationship between us e of visual-spatial representations and success in mathematical problem sol ving. The authors distinguished 2 types of visual-spatial representations: schematic representations that encode the spatial relations described in a problem and pictorial representations that encode the visual appearance of the objects described in the problem. Participants solved mathematical prob lems and reported on their solution strategies. The authors were able to re liably classify their visual-spatial representations as primarily schematic or primarily pictorial. Use of schematic spatial representations was assoc iated with success in mathematical problem solving, whereas use of pictoria l representations was negatively correlated with success. Use of schematic representations was also significantly correlated with one measure of spati al ability. The research therefore helps clarify the relationship between v isual imagery, spatial ability, and mathematical problem solving.