Zur Kurzanzeige

2013-06-10Zeitschriftenartikel DOI: 10.18452/21138
Examining the Presence and Determinants of Operational Momentum in Childhood
dc.contributor.authorKnops, André
dc.contributor.authorZitzmann, Steffen
dc.contributor.authorMcCrink, Koleen
dc.date.accessioned2020-02-13T12:57:10Z
dc.date.available2020-02-13T12:57:10Z
dc.date.issued2013-06-10none
dc.date.updated2019-10-23T19:36:31Z
dc.identifier.urihttp://edoc.hu-berlin.de/18452/21885
dc.description.abstractThe operational momentum (OM) effect describes a systematic bias in estimating the outcomes of simple addition and subtraction problems. Outcomes of addition problems are overestimated while outcomes of subtraction problems are underestimated. The origin of OM remains debated. First, a flawed uncompression of numerical information during the course of mental arithmetic is supposed to cause OM due to linear arithmetic operations on a compressed magnitude code. Second, attentional shifts along the mental number line are thought to cause OM. A third hypothesis explains OM in 9-month olds by a cognitive heuristic of accepting more (less) than the original operand in addition (subtraction) problems. The current study attempts to disentangle these alternatives and systematically examines potential determinants of OM, such as reading fluency which has been found to modulate numerical–spatial associations. A group of 32 6- and 7-year-old children was tested in non-symbolic addition and subtraction problems, in which they had to choose the correct outcome from an array of several possible outcomes. Reading capacity was assessed for half of the children while attentional measures were assessed in the other half. Thirty-two adults were tested with the identical paradigm to validate its potential of revealing OM. Children (and adults) were readily able to solve the problems. We replicated previous findings of OM in the adults group. Using a Bayesian framework we observed an inverse OM effect in children, i.e., larger overestimations for subtraction compared to addition. A significant correlation between children’s level of attentional control and their propensity to exhibit OM was observed. The observed pattern of results, in particular the inverse OM in children is hard to reconcile with the previously proposed theoretical frameworks. The observed link between OM and the attentional system might be interpreted as evidence partially supporting the attentional shift hypothesis.eng
dc.language.isoengnone
dc.publisherHumboldt-Universität zu Berlin
dc.rights(CC BY 3.0) Attribution 3.0 Unportedger
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
dc.subjectapproximate calculationeng
dc.subjectnon-symbolic calculationeng
dc.subjectmental number lineeng
dc.subjectdevelopmenteng
dc.subjectspace and numberseng
dc.subjectattentioneng
dc.subjectnumerical cognitioneng
dc.subject.ddc150 Psychologienone
dc.titleExamining the Presence and Determinants of Operational Momentum in Childhoodnone
dc.typearticle
dc.identifier.urnurn:nbn:de:kobv:11-110-18452/21885-6
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.18452/21138
dc.type.versionpublishedVersionnone
local.edoc.pages14none
local.edoc.type-nameZeitschriftenartikel
local.edoc.container-typeperiodical
local.edoc.container-type-nameZeitschrift
dc.description.versionPeer Reviewednone
dc.identifier.eissn1664-1078
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.doi10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00325none
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.journaltitleFrontiers in Psychologynone
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.volume4none
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.articlenumber325none
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.originalpublishernameFrontiers Media S.A.none
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.originalpublisherplaceLausannenone
bua.import.affiliationKnops, André; Department of Psychology, Humboldt University at Berlin, Berlin, Germanynone
bua.import.affiliationZitzmann, Steffen; Department of Psychology, Humboldt University at Berlin, Berlin, Germanynone
bua.import.affiliationMcCrink, Koleen; Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, NY, USAnone
bua.departmentLebenswissenschaftliche Fakultätnone

Zur Kurzanzeige