Speed of numeral processing showed a trend predicting fifth grade mathematics achievement, and letter processing speed predicted word reading¶
Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · associationalr2·q2
Currency · newest study 2013 · checked against its sources 2026-10-19 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · 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.
q2 i? Faster first grade numeral RAN RT showed a trend toward higher fifth grade mathematics achievement (p = .0780), while fifth grade numeral RT, entered beyond first grade RT, was not significant (p = .0618); first grade letter RT predicted fifth grade word reading (p = .0183), and fifth grade letter RT predicted fifth grade word reading beyond first grade letter speed (p = .0087). → Li Y 2013
Evidence¶
Li Y 2013¶
Li Y, Geary DC (2013) Developmental Gains in Visuospatial Memory Predict Gains in Mathematics Achievement. PLoS ONE 8(7): e70160. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0070160
q2 · i? · associational · r2
Multilevel models including RAN RTs for 177 children. Faster first grade letter encoding and articulation predicted higher Word Reading scores at the end of fifth grade (p = .0183). Faster fifth grade letter processing also predicted fifth grade word reading fluency (p = .0087), above and beyond first grade letter speed; the letter-RT-on-slope interaction (p = .0041) indicated letter speed mattered more in earlier grades.
"there was a trend for speed of numeral processing (p = .0780); children who were faster at encoding and articulating Arabic numerals in first grade had a small advantage over their slower peers in fifth grade."
Discussion¶
Learner Variables¶
- Decoding — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes
- Processing Speed — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes
- Visual Processing — predictor: learners who differ on it differ in outcomes
Related Claims¶
- Visuospatial memory did not predict word reading achievement in any grade, providing a discriminative contrast with mathematics — related
- The unique link between naming speed and word reading partly depends on using alphanumeric stimuli; non-alphanumeric naming speed adds no unique prediction — related
- Faster word recognition at 24 months is associated with larger vocabularies and greater vocabulary gains in Spanish-learning children — related
- RAN stimulus type (numeric vs. non-numeric; alphanumeric vs. non-alphanumeric) largely does not moderate the RAN–mathematics correlation — related
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
claim |
id |
processing-speed-predicts-achievement |
title |
Speed of numeral processing showed a trend predicting fifth grade mathematics achievement, and letter processing speed predicted word reading |
description |
Speed of numeral processing showed a trend predicting fifth grade mathematics achievement, and letter processing speed predicted word reading |
status |
review |
evidence_strength |
weak |
newest_evidence |
2013 |
source_checked |
2026-10-19 |
generated |
by process:wiki-ingest on 2026-10-17 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
1 — li-y-2013 |
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