Zhang, Y., Chen, C., Liu, H., Cui, J., & Zhou, X. (2016). Both non-symbolic and symbolic quantity processing are important for arithmetical computation but not for mathematical reasoning. Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 1-18.
Zhang, Y., Chen, C., Liu, H., Cui, J., & Zhou, X. (2016). Both non-symbolic and symbolic quantity processing are important for arithmetical computation but not for mathematical reasoning. Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 1-18.
ABSTRACT: This study investigated whether numerical processing was important for two types of mathematical competence: arithmetical computation and mathematical reasoning. Thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven Chinese primary school children in third through sixth grades took eight computerised tasks: numerical processing (numerosity comparison, digit comparison), arithmetical computation, number series completion, non-verbal matrix reasoning, mental rotation, choice reaction time, and word rhyming. Hierarchical regressions showed that both non-symbolic numerical processing (numerosity comparison) and symbolic numerical processing (digit comparison) were independent predictors of arithmetical computation but neither was a predictor of mathematical reasoning (assessed by number series completion). These findings suggest that the cognitive basis of mathematical performance varies depending on the type of mathematical competence measured.
KEYWORDS: Approximate number system; mathematical cognition; arithmetical computation; mathematical reasoning
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