Children's strategies in computational estimation.

Full Abstract

We investigated strategies used to estimate answers to addition problems. Two hundred and sixteen participants (72 adults, 72 sixth graders, and 72 fourth graders) had to provide estimates of three-by-three digit addition problems (e.g., 249 + 743). The choice/no-choice method was used to obtain unbiased estimates of the performance characteristics of strategies. Results showed that (a) at all ages, the most common strategy was to round both operands down to the closest smaller decades, (b) strategy use and execution were influenced by participants' age, problem features, and relative strategy performance, and (c) age-related changes in computational estimation include changes in relative strategy use and execution, as well as in the relative influences of problem and strategy characteristics on strategy choices. Implications of these findings for understanding age-related differences in strategic aspects of computational estimation performance are discussed.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Lemaire, Patrick (P); Lecacheur, Mireille (M);

Affiliation: LPC-CNRS, UFR Psychologie, Institut Universitaire de France, Université de Provence, 3 Place Victor Hugo, Case 66, 13331 Marseille, France. lemaire(-atsign-)up.univ-mrs.fr

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of experimental child psychology (J Exp Child Psychol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Aug; vol 82 (issue 4) : pp 281-304

Dates: Created 2002/09/12; Completed 2002/10/29; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12225757, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Child
Female
Humans

This article has not been indexed for related articles as yet, however you can still use the live related article search links below.

See 100+ related articles.