SESP Faculty

David H. Uttal

Faculty Profile

Mental representation, cognitive development, spatial cognition, early symbolization.

Department of Psychology webpage

• 2022 – Winner of the  International Mind, Brain, and Education Society’s research translation award
• 2014 – Winner of the George A. Miller Award from the American Psychological Association for the most distinguished publication in general psychology
• 2008 – Associate Editor, Merrill-Palmer Quarterly
• 2008 –  Member, Standing Grant Review Panel, Mathematics and Science, Institute for Education Sciences, U. S. Department of Education
• 2007 – Member of the Math and Science Education grant review panel of the Institute of Educational Sciences of the U.S. Department of Education
• 2007 – Advisory board, Assembly of curriculum materials for a general-education course in spatial thinking, tying in spatial analysis and geography

Jant, Erin; Haden, Catherine; Uttal, David; Babcock, Elizabeth (2014). Conversation and object manipulation influence children’s learning in a museum. Child Development.

Jee, Benjamin; Gentner, Dedre; Uttal, David; Sageman, Bradley; Forbus, Kenneth; Manduca, Cathryn; Ormand, Carol; Shipley, Thomas; Tikoff, Basil (2014). Drawing on Experience: How Domain Knowledge Is Reflected in Sketches of Scientific Structures and Processes. Research in Science Education.

Jee, Benjamin; Uttal, David; Gentner, Dedre; Manduca, Cathy; Shipley, Thomas; Sageman, Bradley (2013). Finding faults: Analogical comparison supports spatial concept learning in geoscience. Cognitive Processing; 14(2): 175-187.

Uttal, David; Miller, David; Newcombe, Nora (2013). Exploring and Enhancing Spatial Thinking: Links to Achievement in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics?. Current Directions in Psychological Science; 22(5): 367-373.

Uttal, David; Meadow, Nathaniel; Tipton, Elizabeth; Hand, Linda; Alden, Alison; Warren, Christopher; Newcombe, Nora (2013). The malleability of spatial skills: A meta-analysis of training studies. Psychological Bulletin; 139(2): 352-402.

Jee, B. D., Uttal, D. H., & Gentner, D. (2008). To find fault is easy? The role of comparison in learning a geological structure. . Presented at the annual meetings of the Cognitive Science Society
. Washington D.C., DC.

Sauter, M., & Uttal, D. H. (2008). Pointing our the role of gesture in spatial development. . Presented at the annual meetings of the Cognitive Science Society
. Wahington D.C., DC.

Jee. B. D., Uttal, D. H., Gentner, D., Sageman, B., Manduca, C., Shipley, T., & Ormand, C. (2008). Comparisons rock: Using comparison to facilitate perceptual learning of a geoscience concept. Presented at the annual meetings of the Association for Psychological Science. Chicago, IL.

Hand, L. L, Uttal, D. H., Marulis, L., Newcombe, N. S. (2008). A Meta-analysis of training effects on spatial skills. Presented at the annual meetings of the Association for Psychological Science
. Chicago, IL.

Sauter, M., & Uttal, D. H. (2008). It�s in their hands: Gesturing influences children�s spatial thinking. . Presented at the annual meetings of the Association for Psychological Science
. Chicago, IL.

Ware, E. A., Deloache, J. S., & Uttal D. H (2006). Scale Errors Occur Outside of the Lab: Real-World Examples from Parents. Presented at the annual meetings of the Midwestern Psychological Association. Chicago, IL.

Schaal, A., Uttal, D. H., Levine, S., & Goldin-Meadow, S. (2006). Gesture�s Influence on the Integration of Spatial Information: Evidence from Children and Adults. Presented at the annual meetings of the Midwestern Psychological Association. Chicago, IL.

Marulis, L. M., Warren, C., Lewis, A., Newcombe, N., & Uttal, D.H. (2006). Effects of Training or Experience on Spatial Ability: A Meta-Analysis. Presented at the annual meetings of the Midwestern Psychological Association. Chicago, IL.

Schaal, A., Uttal, D. H., Meyer, A., Goldin-Meadow, S., & Levine, S. (2006). Words, Gestures, and Maps: Developmental Changes in the Integration of Spatial Information. Presented at the biennial meetings of the Conference on Human Development. Louisville, KY.

Uttal, D. H., DeLoache, J., Amaya, M., & Harmon, K. (2006). Concreteness and Symbolic Development: The Effects of Playing with Concrete Objects on Children�s Number and Letter Knowledge. Presented at the annual meetings of the American Education Research Association. San Francisco, CA.

Uttal, D. H., Amaya, M., Marulis, L., & DeLoache, J. (2006). When, How and Why Do Concrete Objects Facilitate Young Children�s Learning?. In D. Abramson (Chair) What�s a Situation in Situated Cognition? Presented at the biennial meetings of the International Conference of the Learning Sciences. Bloomington, IN.

Amaya, M., Bostwick, M., Uttal, D., & DeLoache, J (2005). Play and symbolic development: The effect of manipulatives on children�s early literacy skills.

Marulis, L., Warren, C., Uttal, D., & Newcombe, N (2005). The effects of training on spatial cognition in children: A meta analysis.

Uttal, D., & Newcombe, N. S (2005). One landmark, two spatial codes: The development of distance and relational coding. In T. L. Solomon & S. C. Levine (Chairs), Early development of relational coding: Abilities and Limitations.

Ware, E., Uttal, D., & DeLoache, J (2005). Scale errors occur outside of the lab: Real-world examples from parents.

Uttal. D. H (2005). Map use and the development of spatial cognition.

Matuk, C., & Uttal, D. H. Entertaining evolution: Understanding science from animations.. Presented at the biennial meetings of the International Society of the Learning Sciences
. The Netherlands.