Learning and solving algebra word problems: The roles of relational skills, arithmetic, and executive functioning
| Autor: | Swee Fong Ng, Kerry Lee, Rebecca Bull |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2018 |
| Předmět: |
Male
Task switching Adolescent Intelligence Short-term memory Psychology Child PsycINFO Executive Function Developmental and Educational Psychology Mathematical ability Humans Learning 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences Longitudinal Studies Arithmetic Life-span and Life-course Studies Child Problem Solving Demography Language Working memory 05 social sciences 050301 education Cognition Mathematical Concepts Algebra Word problem (mathematics education) Inhibition Psychological Cross-Sectional Studies Memory Short-Term Child Preschool Female Psychology 0503 education Row 050104 developmental & child psychology |
| Zdroj: | Developmental psychology. 54(9) |
| ISSN: | 1939-0599 |
| Popis: | Although algebra is a prerequisite for higher mathematics, few studies have examined the mathematical and cognitive capabilities that contribute to the development of algebra word problems solving skills. We examined changes in these relations from second to ninth grades. Using a cross-sequential design that spanned 4 years, children from 3 cohorts (Mage = 7.85, 10.05, and 12.32) were administered annual tests of algebra word problems, mathematical skills (mathematical relational tasks, arithmetic word problems), and cognitive capabilities (working memory, updating, inhibitory, task switching, and performance intelligence). The cross-sectional findings showed that ability to solve mathematical relational problems was associated strongly with performance in algebra word problems. Working memory and updating explained variance in the relational, but not the algebra problems. Using an autoregressive cross-lagged model with structured residuals to analyze the longitudinal data, we found relational and arithmetic performance predicted independently algebra performance from one year to the next. The strength of these relations was consistent across grades. These findings point to the importance of developing skills in relational problems as one of the tools for improving algebra performance. (PsycINFO Database Record |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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