Early proportional reasoning abilities: The role of relational preference

Recent literature suggests that children develop proportional reasoning abilities at an earlier age than traditionally assumed. It also indicates that children’s preference for additive and multiplicative relations plays a role in this development. In this study we investigated four-to nine-year olds’ proportional reasoning abilities in missing-value proportional reasoning problems, and how these are related to the extent of their preference for additive and multiplicative relations. Having a multiplicative preference was a significant predictor for proportional reasoning abilities, but surprisingly an additive preference was a significant predictor too. It seems that at this young age, an additive preference is not a barrier for proportional reasoning abilities. Rather, along with a multiplicative preference it is a facilitator for this ability.

ISBN:978-0639821542

Jaar van publicatie:2019

Toegankelijkheid:Closed