ERIC Number: EJ788221
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005
Pages: 13
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0279-6015
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
The Effects of Task Demands and Additive Interspersal Ratios on Fifth-Grade Students' Mathematics Accuracy
Hawkins, James; Skinner, Christopher H.; Oliver, Renee
School Psychology Review, v34 n4 p543-555 2005
Assignments were altered to determine if interspersing additional briefer and easier mathematics problems enhanced students' accuracy on longer, more difficult target problems across two types of mathematics assignments. Students (N = 52) from three fifth-grade classes completed six math assignments incorporating two task demands and three interspersal ratios. The interspersal ratios were no interspersal, one interspersed problem per three target problems (1:3), and one interspersal problem per one target problem (1:1). For the written (low-attention) assignments, students completed problems via paper and pencil. For the cognitive (high-attention) assignments, the experimenter read problems aloud and students had to compute mathematics problems in their heads, using paper and pencil only to record answers. Results showed that for the cognitive assignments, target problem accuracy was significantly higher for the 1:3 ratio relative to the other two ratios. On the written assignments, target problem accuracy levels were significantly higher on the 1:1 ratio assignments relative to the no interspersal assignments. Discussion focuses on applied and theoretical implications of the current results. (Contains 3 tables.)
Descriptors: Assignments, Problem Solving, Grade 5, Mathematics Instruction, Time on Task, Skill Development, Integrity, Mathematical Concepts
National Association of School Psychologists. 4340 East West Highway Suite 402, Bethesda, MD 20814. Tel: 301-657-0270; Fax: 301-657-0275; e-mail: publications@naspweb.org; Web site: http://www.nasponline.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Grade 5
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A