Abstract
Studies investigating the relationship between working memory (WM) and approximate number system (ANS) acuity in the area of arithmetic strategy utilization are scarce. The choice/no choice method paradigm was used in the present study to determine whether and how ANS acuity and WM components affected strategy utilization. The results showed that the central executive (CE) mediated the relationship between ANS acuity and strategy utilization. Furthermore, quantile regression analyses revealed that the association between CE and strategy choice was robust from the first to highest quantile. Notably, the relationship between ANS acuity and strategy choice was significant at the median and higher quantiles (i.e., 0.5, 0.75, and 0.85 quantiles), but not significant at lower quantiles (i.e., 0.15 and 0.25 quantiles). These results suggest that domain-general skills play a crucial role in the relationship between children’s ANS acuity and mathematical ability. The impact of ANS acuity and CE on strategy choice was dependent on the distribution of the strategy utilization level. These results provide a further understanding of the utilization of cognitive strategies.
Highlights
Mathematics plays an important role in our daily and professional lives (Hibbard et al, 2007)
The results indicated that central executive (CE) highly predicted individual differences in strategy choice (β = 0.83, SE = 0.78, p = 0.03) beyond the effect of strategy execution (β = 0.42, SE = 0.21, p = 0.38)
This study explored the complex associations between approximate number system (ANS) acuity, working memory (WM), and strategy utilization
Summary
Mathematics plays an important role in our daily and professional lives (Hibbard et al, 2007). The Link Between Working Memory, Approximate Number System Acuity, and Mathematical Performance
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