The Role of Overt Letter Rearrangement in Anagram Solving in Subjects of High and Low Spatial Ability and Anagrams of Two Levels of Difficulty

Summary In a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design 40 men and women college students scoring above and 40 scoring below the mean on a test of spatial aptitude attempted 30 “easy” or 30 “difficult” five-letter anagrams in conditions in which they were either allowed or forbidden to rearrange the anagram letters overtly (by writing them down). Analysis of variance revealed significant main effects of level of spatial aptitude and difficulty of anagram but no effect of the third main variable and no interactions of the kind predicted by Gavurin's finding that spatial aptitude is correlated with anagram performance only when overt rearrangement is forbidden or by the assumption that the importance of rearrangement (overt or covert) is more important with difficult than easy anagrams. Partial support for Gavurin's position was, however, obtained in the calculation of correlations between spatial aptitude and number of anagrams solved. There was no significant difference in the amount of overt rearrangement actually undertaken by Ss of high and low spatial aptitude or by Ss with difficult and Ss with easy anagrams. The kinds of overt rearrangement actually used were noted and the question of the most effective approach was raised.