ERIC Number: EJ953980
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Mar
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-0965
EISSN: N/A
The Spatial-Numerical Congruity Effect in Preschoolers
Patro, Katarzyna; Haman, Maciej
Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, v111 n3 p534-542 Mar 2012
Number-to-space mapping and its directionality are compelling topics in the study of numerical cognition. Usually, literacy and math education are thought to shape a left-to-right number line. We challenged this claim by analyzing performance of preliterate precounting preschoolers in a spatial-numerical task. In our experiment, children exhibited a spatial-numerical congruity (SNC) effect during a nonsymbolic numerosity comparison (quicker reaction times to smaller sets presented on the left side of the screen and to larger ones presented on the right side). These findings suggest that left-to-right number ordering may also have some sources that are independent of reading and math education. We argue that the current explanations of the spatial-numerical link need to be reconsidered. (Contains 2 figures and 1 table.)
Descriptors: Number Concepts, Concept Mapping, Preschool Children, Mathematics Education, Literacy, Experiments, Comparative Analysis, Reading, Spatial Ability, Experimental Psychology, Reaction Time, Visual Aids
Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: usjcs@elsevier.com; Web site: http://www.elsevier.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A