ERIC Number: ED600933
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0885-2014
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Cognitive Mechanisms Underlying the Relation between Nonsymbolic and Symbolic Magnitude Processing and Their Relation to Math
Price, Gavin R.; Eric, Wilkey D.
Grantee Submission, Cognitive Development v44 p139-149 2017
Recent studies suggest that the relation between nonsymbolic magnitude processing skills and math competence is mediated by symbolic number processing. However, less is known about whether mapping between nonsymbolic and symbolic magnitude representations also mediates that relation, and whether the mediating role of symbolic number processing is explained by domain-general executive functions. Therefore, the current study examines whether symbolic comparison, mixed-format comparison, and executive function each mediate the relation beween nonsymbolic magnitude processing and math. Furthermore, we investigate whether the relation between nonsymbolic and symbolic magnitude comparison is mediated by mapping between the formats and/or domain-general executive functions. Results indicate that symbolic processing mediates the relation between nonsymbolic processing and math, even after con- trolling for multiple components of executive function, which were also significant mediators. Cross-format comparison (i.e. mapping), on the other hand, did not mediate the relation between nonsymbolic comparison and math, but did mediate the relation between nonsymbolic and symbolic magnitude processing, even after controlling for executive function, which also mediated that relation. Taken together, our results suggest that both domain-specific and domain- general cognitive mechanisms account for the link between nonsymbolic and symbolic magnitude processing and their relation to math.
Descriptors: Mathematics Skills, Symbols (Mathematics), Cognitive Processes, Executive Function, Early Childhood Education, Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Elementary School Students, Middle School Students, Arithmetic, Diagnostic Tests, Mathematics Tests, Correlation
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Kindergarten; Primary Education; Grade 1; Grade 2; Grade 3; Grade 4; Intermediate Grades; Grade 5; Middle Schools; Grade 6; Junior High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Keymath Diagnostic Arithmetic Test
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R305A140126; R305K050157
Author Affiliations: N/A