An integration of competing accounts on children’s number line estimation

Frontiers in Psychology

Tanja Dackermann¹ 

关键词: mental number line;    number line estimation;    model fitting;    numerical development;    spatial representation of number magnitude;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00884

学科分类：心理学（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Children’s estimation patterns in bounded number line estimation (NLE) reveal marked developmental changes. Three different theoretical accounts were proposed to explain these changes: a log-to-linear shift account, a proportion-judgment account and a two-linear account considering familiarity with numbers or the understanding of the place-value structure of the Arabic number system. However, only the first two accounts are considered prominently in the ongoing scientific debate. Therefore, we first present a reanalysis of NLE data of Austrian first-graders contrasting all three accounts. Results indicate that the two-linear account is a reliable alternative to the log-to-linear shift as well as the proportion-judgment account. However, we do not claim the two-liner account to provide an exhaustive explanation for the observed developmental changes. We rather introduce the idea that aspects of all three accounts may complement – instead of exclude – each other. Jointly considering conceptual (i.e., familiarity, place-value) and procedural (i.e., proportion-judgments) aspects will allow for a more comprehensive understanding of children’s development in NLE.

【 授权许可】

CC BY