The association between nonsymbolic magnitude comparison and multiplication facts is similar across trial types (OTS/ANS range and congruency), and the symbolic comparison association is similar across numerical distances¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 2 studies · 2 associational r2 · q3
Currency · newest study 2016 · checked against its sources 2026-10-20 (automated, 2 of 2 entries) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? All four nonsymbolic trial types (congruent/incongruent, within/beyond subitizing range) correlated significantly and similarly with multiplication fact performance. → Schleepen TMJ 2016 q3 i? Multiplication fact performance correlated similarly with symbolic comparison trials of small and large numerical distance. → Schleepen TMJ 2016 (2)

Evidence¶

Schleepen TMJ 2016¶

Schleepen TMJ, Van Mier HI, De Smedt B (2016) The Contribution of Numerical Magnitude Comparison and Phonological Processing to Individual Differences in Fourth Graders' Multiplication Fact Ability. PLoS ONE 11(6): e0158335. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0158335

q3 · i? · associational · r2

Additional analysis (N = 63) correlating multiplication RT with RT on four nonsymbolic trial types (Table 4: rs .51–.66); re-analyzed regressions replacing the nonsymbolic task with each trial type showed similar results.

"This analysis revealed that all four trial types significantly correlated with multiplication fact performance (all rs between .51 and .65, all ps < .001) showing that all four trial types displayed more or less similar correlations with multiplication fact retrieval."

Schleepen TMJ 2016 (2)¶

Schleepen TMJ, Van Mier HI, De Smedt B (2016) The Contribution of Numerical Magnitude Comparison and Phonological Processing to Individual Differences in Fourth Graders' Multiplication Fact Ability. PLoS ONE 11(6): e0158335. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0158335

q3 · i? · associational · r2

Additional analysis (N = 63) splitting symbolic comparison trials by numerical distance found similar correlations with multiplication fact speed for small (r = .57) and large (r = .54) distances; regression re-analyses yielded the same results.

"This analysis showed that multiplication fact performance showed a more or less similar correlation with trials including a small numerical distance ( r = .57, p < .001) or a large numerical distance ( r = .54, p < .001)."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

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

Related Claims¶

• Fourth graders' multiplication fact solving speed correlates significantly with both symbolic and nonsymbolic magnitude comparison speed — related
• Numerical magnitude comparison explains significant unique variance in multiplication fact performance over and above phonological processing, intellectual ability, and general reaction time — related
• Incongruent dot comparison trials are less accurate and slower than congruent trials, consistent with an added inhibition step — related
• Smaller response-time differences between incongruent and congruent trials (better inhibition) correlate with higher mathematics scores — related
• Congruency effects on both numerical and non-numerical inhibition tasks occur in all three age groups, with an age-by-congruency interaction only on the numerical task — related
• The correlation between dot comparison performance and children's mathematics achievement is driven by incongruent, not congruent, trials — reports the opposite