مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - COMPARISON OF WRITING SPEED OF TURKISH AND AMERICAN 3RD GRADE STUDENTS IN TERMS OF CERTAIN VARIABLES

Abstract :

This descriptive research aimed to assess writing speed of Turkish and American 3rd grade students in terms of such variables as index finder flexion angle, position of thumb and forearm. The research was carried out on primary school 3rd grade students in Turkey and the USA. The participants were determined among the schools in the city center of Kütahya for Turkey and among the schools in the city of Tulsa in the state of Oklahoma for the USA using nonproportionate quota sampling. According to the findings, more than half of the Turkish students used their index finger with a flexion degree above 900 while more than half of the American students used their index finger with a flexion degree below 900. Index finger didn’t cause a significant change in writing speed. Whereas the Turkish students positioned their forearms outward up to an angle of 450, the American students preferred their forearms outward above an angle of 450; such a discrepancy between their preferences is significant. While more than half of the Turkish students positioned their thumb on the pencil, more than half of the American students positioned the thumb crossing with the index finger. The discrepancy observed in the thumb position variable is not statistically significant. Also, while index finger flexion angle didn’t cause a significant change in the writing speed means of the students, forearm position and thumb position seemed to be two significant variables affecting writing speed means.