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

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<strong>The</strong>refore, we believe that this study is important in that it adds constraints for fur<strong>the</strong>r<br />

refinement <strong>of</strong> developmental models <strong>of</strong> multi-digit (<strong>place</strong>-<strong>value</strong> integrated) numerical<br />

processing.<br />

CONCLUSIONS<br />

In <strong>the</strong> current study we investigated <strong>the</strong> <strong>influence</strong> <strong>of</strong> basic numerical competencies, in<br />

particular, <strong>place</strong>-<strong>value</strong> understanding, on later arithmetic performance in a longitudinal<br />

approach. Our results clearly indicate that successful mastery <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>place</strong>-<strong>value</strong> concept in<br />

first grade is a reliable precursor <strong>of</strong> arithmetic capabilities in third grade. In this way, <strong>the</strong><br />

present study extends previous findings on <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> basic numerical knowledge on<br />

<strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> arithmetic capabilities in three aspects. (i) This is <strong>the</strong> first longitudinal<br />

observation <strong>of</strong> an interrelation between basic numerical knowledge and later calculation<br />

performance in a sample <strong>of</strong> typically developing children. (ii) Among basic numerical<br />

competencies, we pinpointed early <strong>place</strong>-<strong>value</strong> understanding to be <strong>of</strong> major relevance for<br />

later arithmetic abilities in general. (iii) More particularly, we were even able to show that<br />

specific numerical effects attributed to a single representation in first grade specifically<br />

predict effects related to <strong>the</strong> same underlying representation in an arithmetic task two years<br />

later.<br />

<strong>The</strong> conclusions for future research are <strong>the</strong>n straightforward. Multi-digit <strong>number</strong><br />

processing and in particular, <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> <strong>place</strong>-<strong>value</strong> understanding should – in our<br />

view – receive greater attention as a unproblematic development <strong>of</strong> <strong>place</strong>-<strong>value</strong> knowledge<br />

cannot be taken for granted in all children (e.g., Gervasconi & Sullivan, 2007). Instead, early<br />

deficits in <strong>place</strong>-<strong>value</strong> understanding still exert <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>influence</strong> on later more complex<br />

arithmetic processes. This calls for research not focusing on single-digit <strong>number</strong>s processing<br />

but which also incorporates representations and concepts necessary to successfully process<br />

multi-digit <strong>number</strong>s. However, such an approach should not only be restricted to basic<br />

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