Is the PSVT:R Suitable for Evaluating Spatial Skill in Design? A Critique

Design educators and spatial researchers frequently use the Purdue Spatial Visualization Test: Rotations (PSVT:R) to assess students’ spatial abilities. Some researchers have claimed that the PSVT:R is the strongest measure of mental rotation ability, that relative to other tests, the PSVT:R most incorporates the “gestalt thinking process,” and that the gestalt thinking process is widely accepted as the key component of spatial ability. In this study, we present evidence that the claims surrounding the PSVT:R’s validity may not be accurate and represent a co-construction of gender and spatial ability. We suggest that the PSVT:R is not an ideal tool for assessment of spatial skill in design disciplines, and instruments that allow for open-ended responses are needed.