ERIC Number: ED599979
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2014
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
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Expert Mathematicians' Strategies for Comparing the Numerical Values of Fractions -- Evidence from Eye Movements
Obersteiner, Andreas; Moll, Gabriele; Beitlich, Jana T.; Cui, Chen; Schmidt, Maria; Khmelivska, Tetiana; Reiss, Kristina
North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, Paper presented at the Joint Meeting of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME) (38th) and the North American Chapter of the Psychology of Mathematics Education (PME-NA) (36th, Vancouver, Canada, Jul 15-20, 2014)
There has been a controversial debate if individuals solve fraction comparison tasks componentially by comparing the numerators and denominators, or holistically by considering the numerical magnitudes of both fractions. Recent research suggested that expert mathematicians predominantly use componential strategies for fraction pairs with common components and holistic strategies for pairs without common components. This study for the first time used eye movements to test if this method allows distinguishing strategy use on specific problem types in expert mathematicians. We found the expected fixation differences between numerators and denominators in problems with common components but not in problems without common components. [For the complete proceedings, see ED597799.]
Descriptors: Mathematics Skills, Learning Strategies, Mathematical Concepts, Fractions, Problem Solving, Eye Movements, Expertise, Mathematics Teachers, College Faculty, College Students, Majors (Students), Foreign Countries
North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. e-mail: pmena.steeringcommittee@gmail.com; Web site: http://www.pmena.org/
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
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Language: English
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Identifiers - Location: Germany
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