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ERIC Number: EJ1237352
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Jan
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0278-7393
EISSN: N/A
Learning about Time: Knowledge of Formal Timing Symbols Is Related to Individual Differences in Temporal Precision
Hamamouche, Karina; Cordes, Sara
Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, v46 n1 p117-126 Jan 2020
Throughout the life span, we are capable of representing quantities in the absence of language, or nonsymbolically. Additionally, over the course of development, we learn many symbolic measurement systems for representing quantities such as time and number. Despite substantial evidence of a relation between the acquisition of symbolic and nonsymbolic numerical acuity (see Halberda, Mazzocco, & Feigenson, 2008), no work has explored whether a similar relation exists between understanding temporal units of measurement and timing precision. That is, does a child's understanding of words like "second," "minute," and "hour" have any relation to their ability to tell which of two events lasted longer? Six- and 7-year-old children (n = 102, M[subscript age] = 83.44 months, 52 females), who are in the process of learning temporal units of measurement, completed a temporal discrimination task (assessing nonsymbolic temporal acuity) and a symbolic timing assessment. Results revealed a positive correlation between children's nonsymbolic temporal acuity and their understanding of temporal units of measurement. Importantly, this correlation held when controlling for age and numerical acuity, suggesting a unique relation between children's temporal acuity and their understanding of temporal units of measurement. This study is the first to show a relation between symbolic and nonsymbolic representations of time.
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A