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Related Experiment Videos

Strategy choice for arithmetic verification: effects of numerical surface form.

J I Campbell1, J Fugelsang

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, 9 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, S7N 5A5, Canada. jamie.campbell@usask.ca

Cognition
|March 29, 2001
PubMed
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.

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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:

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  • 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.