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Strategy choice for arithmetic verification: effects of numerical surface form.
1Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, 9 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, S7N 5A5, Canada. jamie.campbell@usask.ca
Cognition
|March 29, 2001
Summary
Canadian students used calculation more for word-format math problems than digit formats. This format effect was larger for bigger numbers, impacting cognitive arithmetic stages.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Mathematical Cognition
Background:
- Understanding how number format influences cognitive arithmetic is crucial.
- Previous research has explored number representation but less on format-specific processing costs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of equation format (digits vs. words) on cognitive arithmetic strategies and performance.
- To examine how equation size and truth value interact with format effects.
Main Methods:
- 48 Canadian university students solved addition problems in digit and word formats.
- Participants reported their strategy (retrieval vs. calculation) after each trial.
- Reaction times (RT) and strategy use were analyzed based on format, size, and truth value.
Main Results:
- Calculation strategies were more frequent for word-format (41%) than digit-format (26%) equations.
- This difference in strategy use was larger for numerically larger problems.
- Format-specific reaction time costs increased with problem size, particularly for true equations.
Conclusions:
- The surface format of mathematical problems significantly influences central cognitive processes in arithmetic.
- Cognitive arithmetic is sensitive to how numbers are presented, affecting strategy selection and processing.
- These findings contribute to understanding the cognitive architecture of mathematical problem-solving.