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Performance on number line tasks, typically used as a measure of numerical representations, are reliably related to children's mathematical achievement. However, recent debate has questioned what precisely performance on the number line estimation task measures. Specifically, there has been a suggestion that this task may measure not only numerical representations but also proportional judgment skills; if this is the case, then individual differences in visuospatial skills, not just the precision of numerical representations, may explain the relationship between number line estimation and mathematical achievement. The current study investigated the relationships among visuospatial skills, visuomotor integration, number line estimation, and mathematical achievement. In total, 77 children were assessed using a number line estimation task, a standardized measure of mathematical achievement, and tests of visuospatial skills and visuomotor integration. The majority of measures were significantly correlated. In addition, the relationship between one metric from the number line estimation task (R(2)LIN) and mathematical achievement was fully explained by visuomotor integration and visuospatial skill competency. These results have important implications for understanding what the number line task measures as well as the choice of number line metric for research purposes.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.jecp.2015.12.004

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Exp Child Psychol

Publication Date

05/2016

Volume

145

Pages

22 - 33

Keywords

General cognitive skills, Mathematical achievement, Number line estimation, Numerical representations, Visuomotor integration, Visuospatial skills, Achievement, Child, Female, Humans, Individuality, Male, Mathematical Concepts, Psychomotor Performance, Space Perception