Conceptual Knowledge of Arithmetic for Chinese- and Canadian-Educated Adults.

This study investigated whether Canadian- and Chinese-educated adults differ in their understanding of simple arithmetic concepts. Participants (n = 21 per group) solved 3-term addition and subtraction (e.g., 5 + 22 - 22 and 3 + 24 - 26) and multiplication and division (e.g., 2 x 28 ÷ 28 and 4 x 39...

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Published in:Canadian Journal of Experimental Psychology / Revue Canadienne de Psychologie Expérimentale Vol. 70; no. 4; pp. 335 - 343
Main Authors: Robinson, Katherine M., Beatch, Jacqueline-Ann
Format: Article
Published: Canadian Psychological Association Dec2016
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Dec2016
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      pub: Canadian Psychological Association
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        atl: Conceptual Knowledge of Arithmetic for Chinese- and Canadian-Educated Adults.
      aug:
        au:
          Robinson, Katherine M.
          Beatch, Jacqueline-Ann
        affil: University of Regina
      su:
        Problem solving
        Analysis of variance
        Intellect
        Ethnology research
        Task performance
        Chi-squared test
        Cluster analysis (Statistics)
        Mathematics
        Probability theory
        Research funding
        Statistics
        Data analysis
        Educational outcomes
      sug:
        subj:
          Problem solving
          Analysis of variance
          Intellect
          Ethnology research
          Task performance
          Chi-squared test
          Cluster analysis (Statistics)
          Mathematics
          Probability theory
          Research funding
          Statistics
          Data analysis
          Educational outcomes
      keyword:
        arithmetic
        associativity
        conceptual knowledge
        cultural differences
        inversion
        arithmetic
        associativity
        conceptual knowledge
        cultural differences
        inversion
      ab: This study investigated whether Canadian- and Chinese-educated adults differ in their understanding of simple arithmetic concepts. Participants (n = 21 per group) solved 3-term addition and subtraction (e.g., 5 + 22 - 22 and 3 + 24 - 26) and multiplication and division (e.g., 2 x 28 ÷ 28 and 4 x 39 ÷ 13) problems. All problems could be solved more easily if conceptual knowledge of the relationship between the 2 operations in each problem was understood and applied. Accuracy, solution time, and immediately retrospective self-reports of problem-solving strategy data were collected. Participants also completed a timed arithmetic fluency task. Chinese-educated participants demonstrated stronger conceptual understanding of arithmetic on all problems and outperformed Canadian-educated participants on the fluency task. A cluster analysis revealed 4 groups of individuals: weak concept users, who rarely used conceptual knowledge to aid their problem solving; strong concept users, who almost exclusively used their conceptual knowledge to facilitate problem solving; addition and subtraction concept users, who frequently used conceptual knowledge except on difficult multiplication and division problems; and multiplication and division concept users, who frequently used conceptual knowledge except on difficult addition and subtraction problems. Chinese-educated participants were more likely to be in the strong concept clusters, and none were in the weak concept cluster, providing further evidence of stronger conceptual knowledge of arithmetic. These results demonstrate for the 1st time that there are strong cross-cultural differences in conceptual knowledge of simple arithmetic, even in adulthood.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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