Development of Efficient Arithmetic Computation

The developing efficiency of simple arithmetic computations using dual reaction-time (RT) tasks was studied. The primary task of true-false verification of 2-term addition problems and the secondary task of auditory probe detection provided measures of the processing demands of encoding, computation...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of educational psychology 1989-12, Vol.81 (4), p.467-480
Main Authors: Kaye, Daniel B, deWinstanley, Patricia, Chen, Qi, Bonnefil, Virginia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Differences
Biological and medical sciences
Child development
Cognitive Development
Developmental psychology
Elementary School Students
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human
Learning
Mathematical Ability
Mathematics
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Task Complexity
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Summary:The developing efficiency of simple arithmetic computations using dual reaction-time (RT) tasks was studied. The primary task of true-false verification of 2-term addition problems and the secondary task of auditory probe detection provided measures of the processing demands of encoding, computation, comparison, decision, and response stages of the addition process. Developmental shifts in the efficiency with which 2nd, 4th, and 6th graders and college adults computed answers to these problems were found. The dual task demands exceeded the processing resources of 2nd graders throughout all stages of the addition process; increasing processing efficiency was demonstrated by 4th and 6th graders, and for college Ss some information-processing costs were associated with both early and later stages of the addition process. These costs were attributable to resources other than those required by general alertness factors and structural demands of the dual tasks.
ISSN:0022-0663
1939-2176
DOI:10.1037/0022-0663.81.4.467