Document Detail


Using addition to solve large subtractions in the number domain up to 20.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19963199     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
This study examined 25 university students' use of addition to solve large single-digit subtractions by contrasting performance in the standard subtraction format (12-9=.) and in the addition format (9+.=12). In particular, we investigated the effect of the relative size of the subtrahend on performance in both formats. We found a significant interaction between format, the magnitude of the subtrahend (S) compared to the difference (D) (S>D vs. S<D), and the numerical distance between subtrahend and difference. When the subtrahend was larger than the difference and S and D were far from each other (e.g., 12-9=.), problems were solved faster in the addition than in the subtraction format; when the subtrahend was smaller than the difference and S and D were far from each other (e.g., 12-3=.), problems were solved faster in the subtraction than in the addition format. However, when the subtrahend and the difference were close to each other (e.g., 13-7=.), there were no significant reaction time differences between both formats. These results suggest that adults do not rely exclusively and routinely on addition to solve large single-digit subtractions, but select either addition-based or subtraction-based strategies depending on the relative size of the subtrahend.
Authors:
Greet Peters; Bert De Smedt; Joke Torbeyns; Pol Ghesqui?re; Lieven Verschaffel
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2009-12-05
Journal Detail:
Title:  Acta psychologica     Volume:  133     ISSN:  1873-6297     ISO Abbreviation:  Acta Psychol (Amst)     Publication Date:  2010 Feb 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-01-27     Completed Date:  2010-04-08     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0370366     Medline TA:  Acta Psychol (Amst)     Country:  Netherlands    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  163-9     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Centre for Instructional Psychology and Technology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. Greet.Peters@ped.kuleuven.be
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Cognition*
Female
Humans
Male
Mathematics*
Middle Aged
Problem Solving
Reaction Time
Task Performance and Analysis
Young Adult

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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