Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
08:12
An Introduction to Processing, Fitting, and Interpreting Transient Absorption Data
Published on: February 16, 2024
Processing of order information for numbers and months.
Michael S Franklin1, John Jonides, Edward E Smith
1Department of Psychology, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106-9660, USA. franklin@psych.ucsb.edu
Memory & Cognition
|June 3, 2009
Summary
This study reveals that processing number order differs from processing numerical magnitude. Boundary crossings, like decades or the year, uniquely impact order judgments, suggesting distinct cognitive mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Numerical Cognition
- Human Information Processing
Background:
- Extensive research exists on numerical magnitude processing.
- Limited investigation into the relationship between numerical magnitude and ordinal properties.
- Ordinal properties (e.g., 5 being the fifth integer) are distinct from magnitude (quantity).
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate order-related processing of numbers and months.
- Determine if order information processing differs from magnitude information processing.
- Utilize a novel ordering task to explore these differences.
Main Methods:
- Experiments 1 & 2: Participants judged the order of three numbers or months.
- Experiment 3: Participants identified the direction (forward, backward, mixed) of three numbers.
- Novel ordering task employed to assess order processing.
Main Results:
- Observed reverse distance effects when stimuli crossed boundaries (decades, year).
- No distance effect when stimuli remained within boundaries (within decade, within year).
- Results contrast with typical distance effects seen in numerical comparison tasks.
Conclusions:
- Order information processing involves distinct cognitive mechanisms.
- A scanning mechanism and a long-term memory checking mechanism are implicated.
- These findings highlight the unique nature of ordinal processing in cognition.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Real Number Operations
The concept of real numbers includes all the values that can be represented on a continuous number line. The system began with basic counting values used for enumeration. It later expanded to include values that represent the absence of quantity and opposites of the counting values. When situations required expressing parts of a whole or dividing quantities evenly, values capable of representing such proportions were developed. When written using decimal notation, these values can end or repeat...
01:24Numerical Calculations
In engineering applications, the representation of the numerical value is critical. Presenting or reporting the answer is one of the essential parts of engineering practices. Numerical calculations are performed using handheld calculators or computers since numerically accurate answers are always preferred.
The solution to a problem is obtained using different methods. While manually solving algebraic symbols is one of the most common methods, the graphical method is often preferred. Computers...
The solution to a problem is obtained using different methods. While manually solving algebraic symbols is one of the most common methods, the graphical method is often preferred. Computers...
00:59How Data are Classified: Numerical Data
Data that are countable or measurable in specific units are called numerical or quantitative data. Quantitative data are always numbers. Quantitative data are the result of counting or measuring the attributes of a population. Amount of money, pulse rate, weight, number of people living in a town, and number of students who opt for statistics are examples of quantitative data.
Quantitative data may be either discrete or continuous. All quantitative data that take on only specific numerical...
Quantitative data may be either discrete or continuous. All quantitative data that take on only specific numerical...
01:15Orders of Magnitude
The order of magnitude of a number is the power of 10 that most closely approximates it. Thus, the order of magnitude estimates the scale (or size) of its value. To find the order of magnitude of a number, take the base-10 logarithm of the number and round it to the nearest integer. Then the order of magnitude of the number is simply the resulting power of 10.
The order of magnitude is simply a way of rounding numbers consistently to the nearest power of 10. This makes doing rough mental math...
The order of magnitude is simply a way of rounding numbers consistently to the nearest power of 10. This makes doing rough mental math...
00:58Significant Figures in Calculations
Uncertainty in measurements can be avoided by reporting the results of a calculation with the correct number of significant figures. This can be determined by the following rules for rounding numbers:
01:045-Number Summary
In a dataset, the 5-number summary includes the minimum data value, the data value of the first quartile, the median data value or data value of the second quartile, the data value of the third quartile, and the maximum data value. These 5 data values can be visualized as a box and whisker plot.
In a box plot, the minimum and maximum data values represent the lower and upper whiskers in the graph, and the median is designated as the center of the box in the chart. The first quartile and third...
In a box plot, the minimum and maximum data values represent the lower and upper whiskers in the graph, and the median is designated as the center of the box in the chart. The first quartile and third...