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The influence of the place-value structure of the Arabic number ...

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ABSTRACT<br />

It is assumed that basic numerical competencies serve as a cognitive scaffold for <strong>the</strong><br />

development <strong>of</strong> more complex arithmetic skills. <strong>The</strong> current study aims to take a first step in<br />

evaluating this interrelation in a longitudinal approach involving typically developing<br />

children. It was investigated whe<strong>the</strong>r first graders’ performance in basic numerical tasks in<br />

general as well as specific cognitive processes involved in such tasks (e.g., <strong>place</strong>-<strong>value</strong><br />

understanding) reliably predicted <strong>the</strong>ir performance in a complex addition task in third grade.<br />

<strong>The</strong> results indicated that not only overall performance in basic numerical tasks<br />

<strong>influence</strong>d later arithmetic achievement. More particularly, an early understanding <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>place</strong>-<strong>value</strong> <strong>structure</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Arabic</strong> <strong>number</strong> system was observed to be <strong>the</strong> most reliable<br />

predictor for specific aspects <strong>of</strong> arithmetic performance. <strong>The</strong>refore, we suggest that a<br />

representation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>place</strong>-<strong>value</strong> <strong>structure</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Arabic</strong> <strong>number</strong> system should be considered<br />

in current models <strong>of</strong> numerical development. Implications <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> role <strong>of</strong> basic numerical<br />

competencies for <strong>the</strong> acquisition <strong>of</strong> complex arithmetic and its impairment are discussed.<br />

126app

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