Children’s mixed-rounding strategy use in computational estimation

Author:

Poloczek SebastianORCID,Hammerstein SvenjaORCID,Büttner GerhardORCID

Abstract

Being able to perform computational estimations efficiently is an important skill. Furthermore, computational estimation experiments are used to study general principles in strategy development. Rounding strategies are common in computational estimation. However, little is known about whether and when children use a mixed-rounding strategy (i.e., both rounding up and down in one estimation) and how demanding this is in comparison to only rounding-down or only rounding-up. Therefore, we systematically varied the size of unit digits (i.e., the rightmost digit in a whole number) in 72 addition problems. These estimation problems were presented to fourth graders. Most children preferred to use mixed-rounding on mixed-unit problems and therefore adjusted their strategy choice to the individual unit digits in a calculation. Additionally, the sum of units barely influenced children’s strategy choice. On mixed-rounding calculations, the proportion of best strategy use was comparable to that of rounding-up and the latencies to produce an estimate with mixed-rounding were between those for rounding-down and rounding-up. Therefore, the mixed-rounding strategy was in the difficulty range of the two more frequently studied rounding strategies; it was also the preferred strategy for mixed-unit problems by children who adapted their estimation strategies. Based on these findings we argue that research into strategy development with estimation tasks should also include mixed-rounding to improve ecological validity.

Publisher

Leibniz Institute for Psychology (ZPID)

Subject

Applied Mathematics,Experimental and Cognitive Psychology,Numerical Analysis

Reference31 articles.

1. The Effect of Central Executive Load on Fourth and Sixth Graders’ Use of Arithmetic Strategies

2. Computational Estimation and Mathematics Education: A Narrative Literature Review

3. Browne, W. J. (2017). MCMC estimation in MLwiN v3.00. Centre for Multilevel Modelling, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom. Retrieved from http://www.bristol.ac.uk/cmm/media/software/mlwin/downloads/manuals/3-00/mcmc-web.pdf

4. Charlton, C., Rasbash, J., Browne, W. J., Healy, M., & Cameron, B. (2018). MLwiN (Version 3.02) [Computer software]. Centre for Multilevel Modelling, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.

5. Young Children's Addition Estimates

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3