Pictorial Representations of Simple Arithmetic Problems Are Not Always Helpful: A Cognitive Load Perspective

Autor/inn/en	van Lieshout, Ernest C. D. M.; Xenidou-Dervou, Iro
Titel	Pictorial Representations of Simple Arithmetic Problems Are Not Always Helpful: A Cognitive Load Perspective
Quelle	In: Educational Studies in Mathematics, 98 (2018) 1, S.39-55 (17 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (van Lieshout, Ernest C. D. M.)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0013-1954
DOI	10.1007/s10649-017-9802-3
Schlagwörter	Mathematics Instruction; Cognitive Processes; Difficulty Level; Addition; Subtraction; Problem Solving; Mathematics Tests; Grade 1; Elementary School Mathematics; Elementary School Students; Mathematics Achievement; Comparative Analysis; Pictorial Stimuli; Models; Foreign Countries; Statistical Analysis; Netherlands + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Mathematics lessons; Mathematikunterricht; Cognitive process; Kognitiver Prozess; Schwierigkeitsgrad; Subtraktion; Problemlösen; School year 01; 1. Schuljahr; Schuljahr 01; Elementare Mathematik; Schulmathematik; Mathmatics sikills; Mathmatics achievement; Mathematical ability; Mathematische Kompetenz; Fantasieanregung; Analogiemodell; Ausland; Statistische Analyse; Niederlande
Abstract	At the start of mathematics education children are often presented with addition and subtraction problems in the form of pictures. They are asked to solve the problems by filling in corresponding number sentences. One type of problem concerns the representation of an increase or a decrease in a depicted amount. A decrease is, however, more difficult to represent in paper pictorially than an increase. Within the Cognitive Load Theory framework, we expected that commonly used decrease problems would be harder and slower to solve than increase problems because of higher intrinsic cognitive load. We also hypothesised that combining the pictorial information with auditory information would reduce this load and, as a result, would lead to improved performance. We further expected that these effects would be most prominent in children who score below average on a general mathematics test. We conducted an experiment with sixty children attending the first grade of primary school, who were divided into a higher and lower mathematics-achieving group. As expected, children performed worse on the decrease problems compared to the increase problems. Also, the combination of pictorial and auditory information reduced the accuracy lag of the decrease problems compared to the increase problems. With response time this effect occurred only in the group of lower mathematics achieving children. These results are in line with the cognitive load theory framework, but we also offer an alternative explanation regarding attention. (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01