Do different types of school mathematics development depend on different constellations of numerical versus general cognitive abilities?
The purpose of this study was to examine the interplay between basic numerical cognition and domain-general abilities (such as working memory) in explaining school mathematics learning. First graders (N = 280; mean age = 5.77 years) were assessed on 2 types of basic numerical cognition, 8 domain-general abilities, procedural calculations, and word problems in fall and then reassessed on procedural calculations and word problems in spring. Development was indexed by latent change scores, and the interplay between numerical and domain-general abilities was analyzed by multiple regression. Results suggest that the development of different types of formal school mathematics depends on different constellations of numerical versus general cognitive abilities. When controlling for 8 domain-general abilities, both aspects of basic numerical cognition were uniquely predictive of procedural calculations and word problems development. Yet, for procedural calculations development, the additional amount of variance explained by the set of domain-general abilities was not significant, and only counting span was uniquely predictive. By contrast, for word problems development, the set of domain-general abilities did provide additional explanatory value, accounting for about the same amount of variance as the basic numerical cognition variables. Language, attentive behavior, nonverbal problem solving, and listening span were uniquely predictive.
Fuchs
Lynn S
LS
Department of Special Education, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37203, USA. lynn.fuchs@vanderbilt.edu
Geary
David C
DC
Compton
Donald L
DL
Fuchs
Douglas
D
Hamlett
Carol L
CL
Seethaler
Pamela M
PM
Bryant
Joan D
JD
Schatschneider
Christopher
C
D000124:Achievement; D001076:Aptitude; D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition; D032882:Comprehension; D005260:Female; D005793:Generalization, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D017145:Models, Educational; D011340:Problem Solving; D011446:Prospective Studies
J Psychoeduc Assess. 2009 Jun;27(3):265-279
20161145
Except Child. 2012 Jan;78(2):201-220
22736804
J Exp Child Psychol. 2001 Jul;79(3):294-321
11394931
Br J Psychol. 1991 Aug;82 ( Pt 3):375-86
1954527
J Educ Psychol. 2008 Feb 1;100(1):30-47
20057912
J Exp Child Psychol. 2004 Aug;88(4):348-67
15265681
J Exp Psychol Gen. 1999 Sep;128(3):309-331
10513398
Int J Educ Psychol Assess. 2012 Apr;10(1):51-70
26504617
Child Dev. 2010 Sep-Oct;81(5):1520-33
20840238
Child Dev. 1989 Aug;60(4):973-80
2758890
Child Dev. 2008 Jul-Aug;79(4):1016-31
18717904
Cognition. 2003 Aug;89(1):B15-25
12893126
Cognition. 2004 Sep;93(2):99-125
15147931
J Exp Psychol Gen. 1982 Mar;111(1):1-22
6460833
Dev Psychol. 2006 Jan;42(1):189-201
16420128
Child Dev. 2007 Jul-Aug;78(4):1343-59
17650142
Child Dev. 2007 Nov-Dec;78(6):1723-43
17988317
Dev Neuropsychol. 2008;33(3):205-28
18473197
Trends Cogn Sci. 2004 Jul;8(7):307-14
15242690
J Educ Psychol. 2009 May 1;101(2):388
20157630
J Learn Disabil. 2012 Jul-Aug;45(4):291-307
21252374
Dev Neuropsychol. 2008;33(3):277-99
18473200
J Learn Disabil. 1995 Jan;28(1):53-64
7844488
Am Psychol. 2000 Nov;55(11):1233-43
11280937
J Exp Child Psychol. 1997 Apr;65(1):1-24
9126630
Psychol Sci. 2010 Jan;21(1):93-101
20424029
Psychol Aging. 2008 Dec;23(4):702-19
19140642
Annu Rev Psychol. 2000;51:405-44
10751977
Child Dev. 2004 Mar-Apr;75(2):428-44
15056197
Nature. 2008 Oct 2;455(7213):665-8
18776888
Cognition. 2000 Jan 10;74(1):B1-B11
10594312
J Exp Child Psychol. 2001 Jun;79(2):192-227
11343408
Dev Psychol. 2003 Jul;39(4):777-790
12859129
Nature. 2007 May 31;447(7144):589-91
17538620
Psychol Bull. 2005 Jul;131(4):592-617
16060804
Psychol Bull. 1991 May;109(3):490-501
2062981
Exp Aging Res. 1998 Apr-Jun;24(2):101-37
9555566
J Learn Disabil. 2000 Nov-Dec;33(6):567-78
15495398
J Learn Disabil. 2001 May-Jun;34(3):237-48
15499878
Dev Med Child Neurol. 2007 Nov;49(11):868-73
17979867
Annu Rev Psychol. 2009;60:577-605
18817479
Dev Neuropsychol. 2007;32(1):471-519
17650991
Psychol Rev. 1985 Jan;92(1):109-29
3983303