The relative strength of MA's pathways varies by mathematical task type: WM dominates for numeracy, both WM and number processing operate for arithmetic¶
Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associationalr2·q3
Currency · newest study 2019 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person
Subclaims¶
Reading the evidence codes
q is the design tier, i the impact, n the sample, and the kind with its r
the rigour judged within that kind: what each code means.
This claim: no standardized effect is recorded in observations/ for it yet, so no benchmark reading is possible.
q3 i? The pathways through which MA affects math performance differ in relative strength depending on whether arithmetic calculation or numeracy is being solved. → Skagerlund K 2019
Evidence¶
Skagerlund K 2019¶
Skagerlund K, Östergren R, Västfjäll D, Träff U (2019) How does mathematics anxiety impair mathematical abilities? Investigating the link between math anxiety, working memory, and number processing. PLoS ONE 14(1): e0211283. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0211283
q3 · i? · associational · r2
Cross-model comparison of the two fitted SEMs (arithmetic vs. numeracy; N = 170 adults). For arithmetic, both indirect pathways were significant; for numeracy, only the WM pathway was significant. The authors state MA "works through both WM and basic number processing" for arithmetic, whereas numeracy is "to a greater degree linked to WM resources".
"Importantly, the pathways vary in terms of their relative strength depending on what type of mathematical problems are being solved."
Discussion¶
Related Claims¶
- Math anxiety has a direct effect on arithmetic calculation above and beyond the indirect pathways — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
- Math anxiety has a statistically significant indirect effect on arithmetic calculation through symbolic number processing — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
- Math anxiety has a statistically significant indirect effect on arithmetic calculation through working memory (affective drop pathway) — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
- Math anxiety impairs numeracy primarily through working memory, with no significant indirect effect through number processing — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
- Working memory and symbolic number processing are both linked to adult arithmetic and numeracy, replicating prior research — related
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
claim |
id |
ma-pathways-vary-by-task-type |
title |
The relative strength of MA's pathways varies by mathematical task type: WM dominates for numeracy, both WM and number processing operate for arithmetic |
description |
The relative strength of MA's pathways varies by mathematical task type: WM dominates for numeracy, both WM and number processing operate for arithmetic |
status |
review |
evidence_strength |
moderate |
newest_evidence |
2019 |
generated |
by process:wiki-ingest on 2026-10-17 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
1 — skagerlund-k-2019 |
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