ERIC Number: EJ768382
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Jul
Pages: 22
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-0965
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Cognitive Predictors of Single-Digit and Procedural Calculation Skills and Their Covariation with Reading Skill
Koponen, Tuire; Aunola, Kaisa; Ahonen, Timo; Nurmi, Jari-Erik
Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, v97 n3 p220-241 Jul 2007
This study examined the extent to which children's cognitive abilities in kindergarten and their mothers' education predict their single-digit and procedural calculation skills and the covariance of these with reading skill in Grade 4. In kindergarten, we assessed children's (N=178) basic number skills, linguistic skills, and visual attention. In Grade 4, we assessed their calculation and reading skills. Data on children's cognitive ability at 5 years of age and their mothers' level of education were also collected. The results showed that both of the core components of calculation, single-digit and procedural calculation, as well as their covariance with reading, were predicted by unique cognitive factors. Fluency in single-digit calculation and text reading shared an underlying cognitive process, that is, the ability to fluently retrieve verbal or visual-verbal associations from long-term memory. In contrast, procedural calculation was predicted not only by single-digit calculation but also by mother's education and conceptual knowledge of numbers. Overall, the results suggest that a multicomponential approach, including a hierarchical relation among various components, is fruitful when trying to understand the development of mathematical skill and its covariation with reading.
Descriptors: Grade 4, Kindergarten, Computation, Cognitive Ability, Reading Skills, Mothers, Long Term Memory, Attention, Cognitive Processes, Predictor Variables, Recall (Psychology)
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: Elementary Education; Grade 4; Kindergarten
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

Peer reviewed
Direct link
