ERIC Number: ED579448
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Oct
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Early Numerical Competence and Number Line Task Performance in Kindergarteners
Fanari, Rachele; Meloni, Carla; Massidda, Davide
International Association for Development of the Information Society, Paper presented at the International Association for Development of the Information Society (IADIS) International Conference on Cognition and Exploratory Learning in Digital Age (14th, Vilamoura, Algarve, Portugal, Oct 18-20, 2017)
This work aims to evaluate the relationship between early numerical competence in kindergarteners and their numerical representations as measured by the number line task (NLT). Thirty-four 5-year-old children participated in the study. Children's early performance on symbolic and non-symbolic numerical tasks was considered to determine which was a better predictor of NLT performance. Children completed an early number competence standardized test comprising symbolic semantic tasks (Arabic digit comparison and Arabic digit linear order), lexical tasks (numbers recognition and numbers reading), and non-symbolic semantic tasks (dots comparison and picture linear order), and the NLT 0-100. The relationship between early number competence (both symbolic and non-symbolic) and performance on the NLT was analyzed using a regression model in which the predictors were identified through a forward selection based on the use of the index BIC (Bayesian Information Criterion). Results show that symbolic number knowledge tasks (Arabic linear digits order and Arabic digits comparison) are the best predictors of performance on the NLT. This suggests that knowledge of the semantics of Arabic digits is more important than non-symbolic quantity knowledge in predicting number line task accuracy among young children. This finding brings additional evidence to the debate on the relationship between non-symbolic numeral knowledge and symbolic number processing. [This study was supported by Cagliari University (Italy). For the complete proceedings, see ED579395.]
Descriptors: Kindergarten, Young Children, Numeracy, Numbers, Standardized Tests, Symbols (Mathematics), Mathematics Tests, Mathematics Achievement, Predictor Variables, Semantics, Foreign Countries, Intelligence Tests, Statistical Analysis, Regression (Statistics)
International Association for the Development of the Information Society. e-mail: secretariat@iadis.org; Web site: http://www.iadisportal.org
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Research
Education Level: Kindergarten
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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Identifiers - Location: Italy
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Raven Progressive Matrices
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Author Affiliations: N/A