ERIC Number: EJ876304
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Feb
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-0663
EISSN: N/A
Skill Development in Different Components of Arithmetic and Basic Cognitive Functions: Findings from a 3-Year Longitudinal Study of Children with Different Types of Learning Difficulties
Andersson, Ulf
Journal of Educational Psychology, v102 n1 p115-134 Feb 2010
Arithmetic and cognitive skills of children with mathematical difficulties (MD-only), with comorbid reading difficulties (MD-RD), with reading difficulties (RD-only), and normally achieving children were examined at 3 points from Grades 3-4 to Grades 5-6 (age range, 9-13 years). Both MD groups displayed severe weaknesses in 4 domain-specific arithmetic components (factual, conceptual, procedural, and problem-solving skills) during all 3 measure points. Telling time and approximate arithmetic were also problematic for children with MD. Both MD groups displayed a small weakness related to visual-spatial working memory, and the MD-RD group also displayed small weaknesses related to verbal short-term memory, processing speed, and executive functions. The 4 groups developed at similar rates within all domain-specific components as well as basic cognitive functions. These findings demonstrate that children identified as having MD when they are 9 years old do not catch up with their normally achieving peers in later school grades, when they are 13 years old. They also continue to lag behind their peers with respect to the domain-general cognitive system. (Contains 4 tables and 3 figures.)
Descriptors: Reading Difficulties, Learning Problems, Short Term Memory, Arithmetic, Skill Development, Longitudinal Studies, Cognitive Ability, Memory, Visual Perception, Spatial Ability, Verbal Ability, Mathematics, Achievement Gap
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A