Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Uncertainty in Measurement: Significant Figures03:34

Uncertainty in Measurement: Significant Figures

63.2K
All the digits in a measurement, including the uncertain last digit, are called significant figures or significant digits. Note that zero may be a measured value; for example, if a scale that shows weight to the nearest pound reads “140,” then the 1 (hundreds), 4 (tens), and 0 (ones) are all significant (measured) values.
63.2K
Significant Figures in Calculations00:58

Significant Figures in Calculations

10.5K
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:
10.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Special days for one group inform children about both mentioned and unmentioned groups.

Journal of experimental child psychology·2026
Same author

Context Matters: "Left Digit" Effects Can Arise for Digits That are Not Leftmost.

Quarterly journal of experimental psychology (2006)·2025
Same author

Left digit bias in children's and adults' paper-and-pencil number line estimation.

Memory & cognition·2025
Same author

The left digit effect in an unbounded number line task.

Psychonomic bulletin & review·2024
Same author

Modeling the left digit effect in adult number line estimation.

Cognition·2022
Same author

Summary accuracy feedback and the left digit effect in number line estimation.

Memory & cognition·2022

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2025

Multimedia Battery for Assessment of Cognitive and Basic Skills in Mathematics BM-PROMA
10:58

Multimedia Battery for Assessment of Cognitive and Basic Skills in Mathematics BM-PROMA

Published on: August 28, 2021

4.5K

Does instructional intervention reduce the left digit effect in number line estimation?

Gina Gwiazda1, Kelsey Kayton1,2, Nicholas Alia1

  • 1Department of Psychology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA.

Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology (2006)
|November 28, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Awareness of the left digit effect in number line estimation does not reduce its influence. Explicit instruction about this cognitive bias failed to improve estimation accuracy in two experiments.

Keywords:
Number line estimationleft digit effectnumerical cognition

More Related Videos

Modulating Cognition Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Cerebellum
11:47

Modulating Cognition Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Cerebellum

Published on: February 15, 2015

28.7K
Universal Screening for Prevention of Reading, Writing, and Math Disabilities in Spanish
14:43

Universal Screening for Prevention of Reading, Writing, and Math Disabilities in Spanish

Published on: July 18, 2020

8.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 9, 2025

Multimedia Battery for Assessment of Cognitive and Basic Skills in Mathematics BM-PROMA
10:58

Multimedia Battery for Assessment of Cognitive and Basic Skills in Mathematics BM-PROMA

Published on: August 28, 2021

4.5K
Modulating Cognition Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Cerebellum
11:47

Modulating Cognition Using Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Cerebellum

Published on: February 15, 2015

28.7K
Universal Screening for Prevention of Reading, Writing, and Math Disabilities in Spanish
14:43

Universal Screening for Prevention of Reading, Writing, and Math Disabilities in Spanish

Published on: July 18, 2020

8.1K

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Numerical Cognition
  • Human Behavior

Background:

  • The left digit effect is a robust bias in number line estimation, where the leading digit disproportionately influences numerical placement.
  • Previous interventions using feedback have failed to mitigate this left digit effect.
  • Understanding factors influencing numerical estimation accuracy is crucial for cognitive science.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if explicit instruction about the left digit effect can reduce or eliminate it in number line estimation.
  • To determine the efficacy of an instructional intervention on numerical estimation biases.

Main Methods:

  • Two experiments were conducted involving participants performing a number line estimation task (0-1,000).
  • Participants were randomly assigned to an instruction group, receiving explicit information about the left digit effect, or a control group.
  • Experiment 2 included a learning check and additional behavioral measures to assess the impact of instruction.

Main Results:

  • The left digit effect was consistently observed across all blocks and conditions in both experiments.
  • While instruction did elicit behavioral changes, it did not lead to a significant reduction in the left digit effect compared to the control group.
  • The bias persisted despite participants being made aware of its existence.

Conclusions:

  • Making individuals aware of the left digit effect through instruction is insufficient to reduce its impact on number line estimation.
  • Cognitive biases like the left digit effect may be resistant to simple awareness-based interventions.
  • Further research is needed to explore more effective strategies for mitigating such numerical estimation biases.