Strategy choice for arithmetic verification: effects of numerical surface form.
Canadian university students (n=48) solved simple addition problems in a true/false verification task with equations in digit format (3+4=8) or written English format (three+four=eight). Participants reported their solution strategy (e.g. retrieval or calculation) after each trial. Reported use of calculation strategies was much greater with word (41%) than digit stimuli (26%), and this difference was exaggerated for numerically larger problems. Word-format costs on reaction time (RT) were correspondingly greater for large than for small problems, but this Format x Size RT effect was bigger for true than for false equations. The results demonstrate that surface format affects central, rather than only peripheral, stages of cognitive arithmetic.
Campbell
J I
JI
Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, 9 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, S7N 5A5, Canada. jamie.campbell@usask.ca
Fugelsang
J
J
D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D011897:Random Allocation