Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Cross-cultural comparisons of 5-year-olds’ estimating and mathematical ability
AU - Muldoon, Kevin
AU - Simms, Victoria
AU - Towse, John
AU - Menzies, Victoria
AU - Yue, G
PY - 2011/5
Y1 - 2011/5
N2 - Recent research suggests that both the accuracy and linearity of number estimations are a source of difficulty in mathematical learning. There is also a range of evidence to suggest that children in East Asia are typically mathematically precocious compared to Western peers. Bringing these strands of work together, we discuss number line estimations involving an ability match study of children growing up in the United Kingdom and China. This article confirms that the quality of children’s number estimation is associated with some—but by no means all—early number problems. However, contrary to earlier studies, young Chinese children do not display more linear number scales in advance of (and potentially as a driver for) their math skills. Instead, their number estimations are not more accurate than those from an older Western sample with equivalent mathematical ability. The development of linearity in numerical representations takes a complex developmental path in multiple cultures.
AB - Recent research suggests that both the accuracy and linearity of number estimations are a source of difficulty in mathematical learning. There is also a range of evidence to suggest that children in East Asia are typically mathematically precocious compared to Western peers. Bringing these strands of work together, we discuss number line estimations involving an ability match study of children growing up in the United Kingdom and China. This article confirms that the quality of children’s number estimation is associated with some—but by no means all—early number problems. However, contrary to earlier studies, young Chinese children do not display more linear number scales in advance of (and potentially as a driver for) their math skills. Instead, their number estimations are not more accurate than those from an older Western sample with equivalent mathematical ability. The development of linearity in numerical representations takes a complex developmental path in multiple cultures.
KW - Number
KW - Estimating
KW - Mathematics
KW - Preschool
U2 - 10.1177/0022022111406035
DO - 10.1177/0022022111406035
M3 - Journal article
VL - 42
SP - 669
EP - 681
JO - Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology
JF - Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology
SN - 0022-0221
IS - 4
ER -