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Effects of multiplication practice on product verification: integrated structures model or retrieval-induced
Thomas L Phenix1, Jamie I Campbell
1Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, 9 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A5 Canada. tom.phenix@usask.ca
Memory & Cognition
|June 12, 2004
Summary
Practicing simple multiplication facts may suppress, not strengthen, related number representations. This finding contrasts with existing models and suggests retrieval-induced forgetting impacts mathematical cognition.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Educational Psychology
Background:
- The integrated structures model proposes multiplication fact retrieval strengthens operand multiples.
- Retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) suggests practicing items suppresses related items.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether practicing simple multiplication facts strengthens or suppresses operand multiples.
- To test the applicability of retrieval-induced forgetting to mathematical fact retrieval.
Main Methods:
- Participants (N=72) practiced a subset of simple multiplication problems over 40 blocks.
- A true-false product verification task assessed performance on practiced and related false equations.
Main Results:
- Performance was poorer on true and related false equations involving practiced operand multiples.
- This pattern aligns with retrieval-induced forgetting, indicating suppression.
Conclusions:
- Practice in simple multiplication appears to suppress, rather than strengthen, operand multiples.
- Retrieval-induced forgetting may play a significant role in the learning and representation of mathematical facts.