Both numerical magnitude processing tasks correlate positively with arithmetic fact retrieval, more strongly for symbolic¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associational r2 · q3
Currency · newest study 2016 · checked against its sources 2026-10-17 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? Children with better numerical magnitude processing skills showed better arithmetic fact retrieval performance, with a stronger association for symbolic than non-symbolic comparison. → Bellon E 2016

Evidence¶

Bellon E 2016¶

Bellon E, Fias W and De Smedt B (2016) Are Individual Differences in Arithmetic Fact Retrieval in Children Related to Inhibition? Front. Psychol. 7:825. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00825

q3 · i? · associational · r2

Pearson (partial, motor-RT-controlled) correlations in 86 third graders; the symbolic–verification correlation (r = 0.61) was stronger than non-symbolic (r = 0.26), a difference the William-Steiger test found significant.

"Both numerical magnitude processing tasks were significantly correlated with arithmetic verification, indicating that children with better numerical magnitude processing skills showed better arithmetic fact retrieval performance."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Arithmetic Fact Retrieval — outcome: instruction changes it
• Number Sense — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes

Related Claims¶

• Symbolic numerical magnitude processing is a powerful unique predictor of arithmetic fact retrieval — 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 — a broader claim this one bears on
• Both symbolic and nonsymbolic magnitude processing correlate with subtraction accuracy, but subtraction speed is associated only with symbolic tasks — related
• Fourth graders' multiplication fact solving speed correlates significantly with both symbolic and nonsymbolic magnitude comparison speed — related
• Symbolic magnitude comparison contributes more unique variance to fourth graders' multiplication fact performance than nonsymbolic magnitude comparison — related
• Symbolic number comparison accuracy is the only number sense measure with a significant partial correlation with math — related
• Numerical magnitude comparison explains significant unique variance in multiplication fact performance over and above phonological processing, intellectual ability, and general reaction time — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Number naming and number comparison are better predictors of kindergarten arithmetic than number line estimation — related
• Numerical magnitude processing is significantly associated with children's mental multi-digit subtraction performance, controlling for intellectual ability and motor speed — related
• Inhibition does not uniquely predict arithmetic fact retrieval above numerical magnitude processing — related
• Symbolic magnitude comparison is a stronger longitudinal predictor of mathematical achievement than nonsymbolic comparison — related