An investigation of solid matter solving abilities of 8th graders regarding their spatial intelligence

The purpose of this study is to determine the level of 8 grade students' spatial intelligence and solving problems of solid objects; to investigate relationship between spatial ability and their gender, mathematics achievement, solving the problem of solid objects and relationship between solving the problem of solid objects and mathematics achievement. The participants of the study are 64 8 grade students in total, who are studying in a primary school, in 2014-2015 academic year, in Bursa. They were selected randomly. The participants of the second part of the study 9 students in total: 3 students who has low scores,3 students who has moderate scores and the rest of them who has high scores. Two measuring instruments are used to collect data: Santa Barbara Solids Test (SBST) and Solid Objects Achievement Test SOAT) what is developed by the researcher. Unstructured interview technique is used in order to examine students' answers in SOAT in depth. This is a case study. Both qualitative and quantitative analysis were used in this research. In order to analyze the obtained data mean, frekans, independent sample T test, Pearson product moment correlation, Kendall's Tau correlation coefficient were used. Qualitative descriptive analysis was used. The level of 8-grade students' spatial ability is found moderate according to research finding. While there is no relationship between their spatial ability and gender, there is a meaningful relationship which is positively and a moderate level between spatial ability and academic achievement. According to research, 8-grade students' ability of solving solid objects problems is low. Students are in trouble to response. There is a meaningful relationship which is positively and a high level between ability of solving solid objects problems and academic achievement. There is no relationship between ability of solving solid objects problems and spatial ability.