Working Memory, Strategy Execution, and Strategy Selection in Mental Arithmetic

Imbo, Ineke; Duverne, Sandrine; Lemaire, Patrick

doi:10.1080/17470210600943419

Cited by 56 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…Both speed and accuracy results are also in agreement with an earlier study on computational estimation (Imbo et al, 2007), in which higher load effects on the rounding-up strategy than on the rounding-down strategy were observed. Indeed,…”

Section: Latenciessupporting

confidence: 81%

Cultural differences in strategic behavior: A study in computational estimation.

Imbo¹,

LeFevre²

2011

Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cogni

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Imbo and LeFevre (2009) observed that Asians (responding in their 2nd language) selected strategies less adaptively than did non-Asians (responding in their 1st language). In the present research, we tested whether adaptive strategy selection is (a) really more resource demanding for Asians than for non-Asians or (b) more resource demanding for participants answering in a nonpreferred language. Three groups of participants were tested on a computational estimation task (e.g., 42 × 57 ≈ ?) in no-load and load conditions: 40 Belgian-educated adults who answered in their first language (Dutch), 40 Chinese-educated adults who answered in their first language (Chinese), and 40 Chinese-educated adults who answered in their second language (English). Although the Chinese were faster and more accurate than the Belgians, they selected strategies less adaptively. That is, the Chinese were less likely to choose the strategy that produced the best estimate; this was especially so when their working memory was loaded. Further, we also observed that the Chinese who answered in English were slower than the Chinese who answered in Chinese; this difference was larger for difficult strategies and under working memory load. These results are interpreted in terms of the encoding complex model, whereas the explanation for the adaptivity results is based on cultural differences in educational history.

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Section: Latenciessupporting

confidence: 81%

Cultural differences in strategic behavior: A study in computational estimation.

Imbo¹,

LeFevre²

2011

Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cogni

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“…Although strategy may be both cause and effect, some previous research seems to be more in accord with a strategy-as-effect hypothesis (for a brief review, see Dunlosky & Kane, 2007). For instance, Imbo, Duverne, and Lemaire (2007) investigated the role of WMC in solving arithmetic problems, and they concluded that "when fewer working memory resources were left, participants chose the simple strategy more often, especially to solve the most demanding problems" (p. 1258). Even if enhanced WMC increases the likelihood of strategy use (as per the strategy-as-effect hypothesis), it would not necessarily rule out the strategy affordance hypothesis for explaining span-cognition relationships.…”

Section: Strategy Use As a Mediatormentioning

confidence: 99%

Why does working memory span predict complex cognition? Testing the strategy affordance hypothesis

2008

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“…The present study is especially important because we show significant lower adaptivity levels under stressful situations (i.e. working-memory load conditions; see also Imbo, Duverne, & Lemaire, 2007), albeit for one culture only.…”

Section: The Relevance Of Being Adaptivementioning

confidence: 99%

Cultural differences in complex addition: Efficient Chinese versus adaptive Belgians and Canadians.

Imbo

LeFevre

2009

Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cogni

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In the present study, the authors tested the effects of working-memory load on math problem solving in 3 different cultures: Flemish-speaking Belgians, English-speaking Canadians, and Chinese-speaking Chinese currently living in Canada. Participants solved complex addition problems (e.g., 58 ϩ 76) in no-load and working-memory load conditions, in which either the central executive or the phonological loop was loaded. The authors used the choice/no-choice method to obtain unbiased measures of strategy selection and strategy efficiency. The Chinese participants were faster than the Belgians, who were faster and more accurate than the Canadians. The Chinese also required fewer working-memory resources than did the Belgians and Canadians. However, the Chinese chose less adaptively from the available strategies than did the Belgians and Canadians. These cultural differences in math problem solving are likely the result of different instructional approaches during elementary school (practice and training in Asian countries vs. exploration and flexibility in non-Asian countries), differences in the number language, and informal cultural norms and standards. The relevance of being adaptive is discussed as well as the implications of the results in regards to the strategy choice and discovery simulation model of strategy selection (J. Shrager & R. S. Siegler, 1998).

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Working Memory, Strategy Execution, and Strategy Selection in Mental Arithmetic

Cited by 56 publications

References 68 publications

Cultural differences in strategic behavior: A study in computational estimation.

Cultural differences in strategic behavior: A study in computational estimation.

Why does working memory span predict complex cognition? Testing the strategy affordance hypothesis

Cultural differences in complex addition: Efficient Chinese versus adaptive Belgians and Canadians.

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