Inhibition and Cognitive Load in Fractions and Decimals

Autor/inn/en	Avgerinou, Vana A.; Tolmie, Andrew
Titel	Inhibition and Cognitive Load in Fractions and Decimals
Quelle	In: British Journal of Educational Psychology, 90 (2020), S.240-256 (17 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Avgerinou, Vana A.) ORCID (Tolmie, Andrew)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0007-0998
DOI	10.1111/bjep.12321
Schlagwörter	Elementary School Students; Inhibition; Fractions; Arithmetic; Cognitive Processes; Difficulty Level; Mathematical Concepts; Concept Formation; Predictor Variables; Responses; Mathematical Logic + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Hemmung; Bruchrechnung; Addition; Arithmetik; Arithmetikunterricht; Rechnen; Cognitive process; Kognitiver Prozess; Schwierigkeitsgrad; Concept learning; Begriffsbildung; Prädiktor; Mathematical logics; Mathematische Logik
Abstract	Background: Prior research with adults and children suggests that inhibitory control may have a role to play in learning counterintuitive fractions and decimals that are inconsistent with whole number knowledge. However, there is little research to date with primary school-aged children at the early stages of fraction and decimal instruction that addresses this relationship. Understanding this association has the potential to inform instructional practices concerning the learning of counterintuitive maths concepts. Aim: This study examined the relationship between inhibitory control and counterintuitive fractions and decimals in the presence of varying cognitive load in 8- to 10-year-old children. Methods: Children aged 8-10 years (N = 95) completed a fraction and decimal magnitude comparison task with pairs that were either consistent (controls) or inconsistent (counterintuitive) with whole number magnitudes. Cognitive load was manipulated by presenting trials with simple integrated text (no additional load), with integrated text accompanied by supportive illustrations (low load), or with illustrations containing information that needed to be integrated to arrive at an answer (high load). Participants also completed measures of response and semantic inhibition. Results: Inhibitory control uniquely contributed to performance in counterintuitive fractions and decimals only under conditions of high cognitive load, where low semantic inhibition predicted longer response times. Conclusion: Our results indicate a more nuanced relation between inhibitory control and counterintuitive fractions and decimals than presumed by previous research. They suggest that the role of inhibitory control when reasoning about counterintuitive fractions and decimals is not constant, and it is only drawn on at high levels of cognitive load. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01