Metadata and additional information for dataset: ÒVerbal and Visuospatial Working Memory in Mathematics and Humanities StudentsÓ

Data were collected from 82 students studying mathematics or economics at university and 84 students studying humanities subjects at university across 3 experiments on measures of short-term and working memory, mathematics, spatial cognition and attention. 

This dataset consists of 7 files in addition to this ReadMe file. 3 .csv files contain data from the 3 experiments, 1 .txt file describes the tasks used in each experiment and 3 .pdf files provide examples of information and consent forms for participants as well as the anxiety scale used. 

The remaining text below provides further details on the contents of the .csv data files.

Data File 1: Exp1_All_Data_Final:

Participant: Unique participant number

Group: 
1 = maths
2 = humanities

Gender: 
1 = male
2 = female

Hand:
0 = Right
1 Ð Left

NumberFace: Mean accuracy on the face-matching processing task for the number storage condition

Median_NumberFace_RT: Median RT on the face-matching processing task for the number storage condition

NumberCorr: Proportion correct for the number of number storage items recalled in their correct serial position

SpatialFace: Mean accuracy on the face-matching processing task for the spatial storage condition

Median_SpatialFace_RT: Median RT on the face-matching processing task for the spatial storage condition

SpatialCorr: Proportion correct for the number of spatial storage items recalled in their correct serial position

Spatial_Any_Order: Proportion correct for the number of spatial storage items recalled in any serial position

WordFace: Mean accuracy on the face-matching processing task for the word storage condition

Median_WordFace_RT: Median RT on the face-matching processing task for the word storage condition

WordCorr: Proportion correct for the number of word storage items recalled in their correct serial position

Age: Age at testing as a decimal

YearsSinceMaths: Number of years since studied maths

MatricesWASI: Raw score on the Matrices subtest of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence

VerbalWASI: Raw score on the Vocabulary subtest of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence

MathsCalc_WJ: Raw score on the Woodcock-Johnson Calculation Test

PR_Calc: Percentile Rank compared to age norms on the Woodcock-Johnson Calculation Test

AnxietyEvaluation: Raw scores for maths anxiety questions that map onto evaluation anxiety: questions 1, 3, 6, 7, 10, 18, 19, 21, 23

AnxietySocial: Raw scores for maths anxiety questions that map onto social anxiety: questions 2, 4, 5, 8, 11, 13, 14, 22

AnxietyObs; Raw scores for maths anxiety questions that map onto observation anxiety: questions 9, 12, 15, 16, 17, 20

ANUnumber: Score for the number of number storage items using the all-or-nothing-unit method

ANUspatial: Score for the number of spatial storage items using the all-or-nothing-unit method

ANUword: Score for the number of word storage items using the all-or-nothing-unit method

ANLnumber: Score for the number of number storage items using the all-or-nothing-load method

ANLspatial: Score for the number of spatial storage items using the all-or-nothing-load method

ANLword: Score for the number of word storage items using the all-or-nothing-load method


Data File 2: Exp2_All_Data_Final:

Participant: Unique participant number

Group:
1 = maths
2 = humanities

Age: Age at testing as a decimal

Gender:
0 = female
1 = male

Years_Since_Maths: Number of years since studied maths

Handedness: 
0 = Right
1 Ð Left


Maths_GCSE: GCSE grade obtained
0 = A*
1 = A
2 = B
3 = C

Matrices: Raw score on the Matrices subtest of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence

Maths_Fluency: Raw score on the Woodcock-Johnson Math Fluency Test

MathsCalc_WJ: Raw score on the Woodcock-Johnson Calculation Test

PR_Calc: Percentile Rank compared to age norms on the Woodcock-Johnson Calculation Test

PR_Fluency: Percentile Rank compared to age norms on the Woodcock-Johnson Math Fluency Test

STM_NUMBER: Proportion correct for the number of short-term memory number storage items recalled in their correct serial position

STM_SPATIAL: Proportion correct for the number of short-term memory spatial storage items recalled in their correct serial position

STM_ANU_number: Score for the number of short-term memory number storage items using the all-or-nothing-unit method

STM_ANU_spatial: Score for the number of short-term memory spatial storage items using the all-or-nothing-unit method


STM_ANL_number: Score for the number of short-term memory number storage items using the all-or-nothing-load method

STM_ANL_spatial: Score for the number of short-term memory spatial storage items using the all-or-nothing-load method

STM_spatial_any_order: Proportion correct for the number of short-term memory spatial storage items recalled in any serial position

WM_number_face: Mean accuracy on the face-matching processing task for the working memory number storage condition

WM_number_face_RT: Median RT on the face-matching processing task for the working memory number storage condition

WM_NUMBER_CORR: Proportion correct for the number of working memory number storage items recalled in their correct serial position

WM_spatial_face: Mean accuracy on the face-matching processing task for the working memory spatial storage condition

WM_spatial_face_RT: Median RT on the face-matching processing task for the working memory spatial storage condition

WM_SPATIAL_CORR: Proportion correct for the number of working memory spatial storage items recalled in their correct serial position

WM_ANU_number: Score for the number of working memory number storage items using the all-or-nothing-unit method

WM_ANU_spatial: Score for the number of working memory spatial storage items using the all-or-nothing-unit method

WM_ANL_number: Score for the number of working memory number storage items using the all-or-nothing-load method

WM_ANL_spatial: Score for the number of working memory spatial storage items using the all-or-nothing-load method

WM_spatial_any_order: Proportion correct for the number of working memory spatial storage items recalled in any serial position

Posner_self_rate: what extent of the time participamnts said they kept their gaze fixed on the central cue as instructed, on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 was Ôhardly anyÕ and 5 was Ôalmost allÕ

Posner_Neutral: Median RT for reaction to neutral cues in the Posner task

Posner_Valid: Median RT for reaction to valid cues in the Posner task

Posner_Invalid: Median RT for reaction to invalid cues in the Posner task

POSNER_DIFF: Invalid RTs minus Valid RTs

TotalLapses: 
0 = no attentional lapse
1 = number of  working memory spatial storage trials in which zero or one item recalled in correct serial position

MA_Eval; Raw scores for maths anxiety questions that map onto evaluation anxiety: questions 1, 3, 6, 7, 10, 18, 19, 21, 23

MA_Social: Raw scores for maths anxiety questions that map onto social anxiety: questions 2, 4, 5, 8, 11, 13, 14, 22

MA_Obs: Raw scores for maths anxiety questions that map onto observation anxiety: questions 9, 12, 15, 16, 17, 20

WM_EQUAL_NumberFace: Mean accuracy on the face-matching processing task for the working memory number storage condition, for trials involving spans 3 to 7

WM_EQUAL_NumberFace_RT: Median RT on the face-matching processing task for the working memory number storage condition, for trials involving spans 3 to 7

WM_EQUAL_NUMBER_CORR: Proportion correct for the number of working memory number storage items recalled in their correct serial position, for trials involving spans 3 to 7

WM_EQUAL_SpatialFace:  Mean accuracy on the face-matching processing task for the working memory spatial storage condition, for trials involving spans 3 to 7

WM_EQUAL_SpatialFace_RT: Median RT on the face-matching processing task for the working memory spatial storage condition, for trials involving spans 3 to 7

WM_EQUAL_SPATIAL_CORR: Proportion correct for the number of working memory spatial storage items recalled in their correct serial position, for trials involving spans 3 to 7

WM_EQUAL_ANU_Number: Score for the number of working memory number storage items using the all-or-nothing-unit method, for trials involving spans 3 to 7

WM_EQUAL_ANU_Spatial: Score for the number of working memory spatial storage items using the all-or-nothing-unit method, for trials involving spans 3 to 7

WM_EQUAL_ANL_Number: Score for the number of working memory number storage items using the all-or-nothing-unit method, for trials involving spans 3 to 7

WM_EQUAL_ANL_Spatial: Score for the number of working memory spatial storage items using the all-or-nothing-unit method, for trials involving spans 3 to 7

WM_EQUAL_SpatialAnyOrder: Proportion correct for the number of working memory spatial storage items recalled in any serial position, for trials involving spans 3 to 7

STM_EQUAL_NUMBER_CORR: Proportion correct for the number of short-term memory number storage items recalled in their correct serial position, for trials involving spans 3 to 8

STM_EQUAL_SPATIAL_CORR: Proportion correct for the number of short-term memory spatial storage items recalled in their correct serial position, for trials involving spans 3 to 8

STM_EQUAL_ANU_Number: Score for the number of short-term memory number storage items using the all-or-nothing-unit method, for trials involving spans 3 to 8

STM_EQUAL_ANU_Spatial: Score for the number of short-term memory spatial storage items using the all-or-nothing-unit method, for trials involving spans 3 to 8

STM_EQUAL_ANL_Number: Score for the number of short-term memory number storage items using the all-or-nothing-load method, for trials involving spans 3 to 8

STM_EQUAL_ANL_Spatial: Score for the number of short-term memory spatial storage items using the all-or-nothing-load method, for trials involving spans 3 to 8


Data File 3: Exp3_All_Data_Final:

Participant: Unique participant number

Group:
1 = Maths
2 = Humanities

Gender:
0 = female
1 = male

Age: Age at testing as a decimal

Years_Since_Maths: Number of years since studied maths

V_V_wordsCorr: Mean accuracy on the word rhyming processing task for the verbal processing & verbal storage condition

V_V_wordsRT: Median RT on the word rhyming processing task for the verbal processing & verbal storage condition

V_V_PropCorr: Proportion correct for the number of number storage items recalled in their correct serial position for the verbal processing & verbal storage condition

V_V_anu: Score for the number of number storage items using the all-or-nothing-unit method in the verbal processing & verbal storage condition

V_V_anl: Score for the number of number storage items using the all-or-nothing-load method in the verbal processing & verbal storage condition

V_S_wordsCorr: Mean accuracy on the word rhyming processing task for the verbal processing & spatial storage condition

V_S_wordsRT: Median RT on the word rhyming processing task for the verbal processing & spatial storage condition

V_S_PropCorr: Proportion correct for the number of spatial storage items recalled in their correct serial position for the verbal processing & spatial storage condition

V_S_anu: Score for the number of spatial storage items using the all-or-nothing-unit method in the verbal processing & spatial storage condition

V_S_anl: Score for the number of spatial storage items using the all-or-nothing-load method in the verbal processing & spatial storage condition

S_V_picturesCorr: Mean accuracy on the spatial visualisation processing task for the spatial processing & verbal storage condition

S_V_picturesRT: Median RT on the spatial visualisation processing task for the spatial processing & verbal storage condition

S_V_PropCorr: Proportion correct for the number of number storage items recalled in their correct serial position for the spatial processing & verbal storage condition

S_V_anu: Score for the number of number storage items using the all-or-nothing-unit method in the spatiall processing & verbal storage condition

S_V_anl: Score for the number of number storage items using the all-or-nothing-load method in the spatiall processing & verbal storage condition

S_S_picturesCorr: Mean accuracy on the spatial visualisation processing task for the spatial processing & spatial storage condition

S_S_picturesRT: Median RT on the spatial visualisation processing task for the spatial processing & spatial storage condition

S_S_PropCorr: Proportion correct for the number of spatial storage items recalled in their correct serial position for the spatial processing & spatial storage condition

S_S_anu: Score for the number of spatial storage items using the all-or-nothing-unit method in the spatial processing & spatial storage condition

S_S_anl: Score for the number of spatial storage items using the all-or-nothing-load method in the spatial processing & spatial storage condition

MRT_A:  Raw score on the MRT-A Test

Wasi_Matrices: Raw score on the Matrices subtest of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence

Math_Calc_WJ: Raw score on the Woodcock-Johnson Calculation Test

Collapsed_SpatialProcessRT: Mean of ÔS_V_picturesRTÕ and ÔS_S_picturesRTÕ

Collapsed_Spatial_Storage: Mean of ÔV_S_PropCorrÕ and ÔS_S_PropCorrÕ