The relationship between problem size and fixation patterns during addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
Author(s) / Creator(s)
Curtis, Evan T.
Huebner, Matthew G.
LeFevre, Jo-Anne
Abstract / Description
Eye-tracking methods have only rarely been used to examine the online cognitive processing that occurs during mental arithmetic on simple arithmetic problems, that is, addition and multiplication problems with single-digit operands (e.g., operands 2 through 9; 2 + 3, 6 x 8) and the inverse subtraction and division problems (e.g., 5 – 3; 48 ÷ 6). Participants (N = 109) solved arithmetic problems from one of the four operations while their eye movements were recorded. We found three unique fixation patterns. During addition and multiplication, participants allocated half of their fixations to the operator and one-quarter to each operand, independent of problem size. The pattern was similar on small subtraction and division problems. However, on large subtraction problems, fixations were distributed approximately evenly across the three stimulus components. On large division problems, over half of the fixations occurred on the left operand, with the rest distributed between the operation sign and the right operand. We discuss the relations between these eye tracking patterns and other research on the differences in processing across arithmetic operations.
Keyword(s)
eye tracking mental arithmetic problem-size effect addition subtraction multiplication divisionPersistent Identifier
Date of first publication
2016-08-05
Journal title
Journal of Numerical Cognition
Volume
2
Issue
2
Page numbers
91–115
Publisher
PsychOpen GOLD
Publication status
publishedVersion
Review status
peerReviewed
Is version of
Citation
Curtis, E. T., Huebner, M. G., & LeFevre, J.-A. (2016). The relationship between problem size and fixation patterns during addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Journal of Numerical Cognition, 2(2), 91–115. https://doi.org/10.5964/jnc.v2i2.17
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Curtis, Evan T.
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Huebner, Matthew G.
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Author(s) / Creator(s)LeFevre, Jo-Anne
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2018-11-21T11:42:40Z
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Made available on2018-11-21T11:42:40Z
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Date of first publication2016-08-05
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Abstract / DescriptionEye-tracking methods have only rarely been used to examine the online cognitive processing that occurs during mental arithmetic on simple arithmetic problems, that is, addition and multiplication problems with single-digit operands (e.g., operands 2 through 9; 2 + 3, 6 x 8) and the inverse subtraction and division problems (e.g., 5 – 3; 48 ÷ 6). Participants (N = 109) solved arithmetic problems from one of the four operations while their eye movements were recorded. We found three unique fixation patterns. During addition and multiplication, participants allocated half of their fixations to the operator and one-quarter to each operand, independent of problem size. The pattern was similar on small subtraction and division problems. However, on large subtraction problems, fixations were distributed approximately evenly across the three stimulus components. On large division problems, over half of the fixations occurred on the left operand, with the rest distributed between the operation sign and the right operand. We discuss the relations between these eye tracking patterns and other research on the differences in processing across arithmetic operations.en_US
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Publication statuspublishedVersion
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Review statuspeerReviewed
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CitationCurtis, E. T., Huebner, M. G., & LeFevre, J.-A. (2016). The relationship between problem size and fixation patterns during addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Journal of Numerical Cognition, 2(2), 91–115. https://doi.org/10.5964/jnc.v2i2.17en_US
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ISSN2363-8761
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1236
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.1428
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Language of contenteng
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PublisherPsychOpen GOLD
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.5964/jnc.v2i2.17
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Keyword(s)eye trackingen_US
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Keyword(s)mental arithmeticen_US
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Keyword(s)problem-size effecten_US
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Keyword(s)additionen_US
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Keyword(s)subtractionen_US
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Keyword(s)multiplicationen_US
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Keyword(s)divisionen_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleThe relationship between problem size and fixation patterns during addition, subtraction, multiplication, and divisionen_US
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DRO typearticle
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Issue2
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Journal titleJournal of Numerical Cognition
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Page numbers91–115
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Volume2
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Visible tag(s)Version of Record