Symbolic numerical magnitude comparison has a more unique association than number line estimation with children's speed on indirect-addition subtraction items¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r2 · q3
Currency · newest study 2014 · checked against its sources 2026-10-19 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? In cross-sectional partial correlational analyses, the association between number line estimation and subtraction disappeared while the association with numerical magnitude comparison remained significant, specifically for response times on indirect-addition (IA) items; the data do not allow causal interpretation. → Linsen 2014

Evidence¶

Linsen 2014¶

Linsen, S., Verschaffel, L., Reynvoet, B., De Smedt, B. (2014). The Association between Children's Numerical Magnitude Processing and Mental Multi-digit Subtraction. Acta Psychologica. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2013.10.008

q3 · i? · associational · r2

Cross-sectional partial correlational analyses, controlling for intellectual ability and for performance on the other item type, showed number line estimation no longer associated with subtraction performance, whereas numerical magnitude comparison still was. The unique association was with response times on the indirect-addition (IA) items: symbolic comparison's partial correlation with IA-item times differed significantly from its partial correlation with direct-subtraction item times (Williams-Steiger t = -2.89, p < .01); for accuracy the two did not differ (t = 1.50, p = .14). Correlations are printed in the article's tables, but no effect size for the contrast between the two tasks is coded here. The authors state the single-time-point data "do not allow us to make causal interpretations."

"the association between the number line estimation task and mental multi-digit subtraction disappeared, while the association with numerical magnitude comparison was still significant"

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Number Sense — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes

Related Claims¶

• The association between numerical magnitude processing and subtraction is more prominent for items eliciting indirect addition than for direct subtraction items — related
• Both symbolic and nonsymbolic magnitude processing correlate with subtraction accuracy, but subtraction speed is associated only with symbolic tasks — related
• Number line estimation and numerical magnitude comparison correlate with mathematics achievement (r = .24 to .44), with number line estimation more strongly related in older children — related
• Numerical magnitude processing is significantly associated with children's mental multi-digit subtraction performance, controlling for intellectual ability and motor speed — related
• Symbolic number comparison accuracy is the only number sense measure with a significant partial correlation with math — related
• The three estimation tasks do not represent the same construct in young children and should not be combined into composites — related
• Direct subtraction items were solved more accurately and faster than indirect addition items — related
• MLD children switch between direct subtraction and subtraction by addition only when the numerical distance between subtrahend and difference is large — related
• The choice of magnitude comparison measure type carries methodological implications for studies of children's mathematical development — related