Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
10:58
Multimedia Battery for Assessment of Cognitive and Basic Skills in Mathematics (BM-PROMA)
Published on: August 28, 2021
Students' development of place value understanding in primary school
Moritz Herzog1, Annemarie Fritz2
1Institute for Mathematics Education, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Child Development
|August 6, 2026
Summary
Children
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Development
- Mathematics Education
Background:
- Place value understanding is crucial for mathematical success.
- Many children struggle with the base-ten system.
- Developmental trajectories can guide instruction and assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the longitudinal validity of a hierarchical model of place value understanding development.
- To analyze the developmental trajectories of place value understanding in 3rd and 4th graders.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study tracked 195 students (Grades 3-4) over one school year.
- Place value understanding was assessed at three time points.
- Hierarchical model of development was analyzed.
Main Results:
- Significant gains in place value understanding were observed at group and individual levels.
- Intelligence positively correlated with steeper developmental progress.
- Prior knowledge did not impact development, highlighting individual heterogeneity.
Conclusions:
- The hierarchical model is useful for guiding place value instruction and assessment.
- Individual developmental trajectories underscore the diverse paths children take in learning place value.
- Understanding these trajectories can inform targeted educational interventions.
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