Eye gaze patterns reveal how we reason about fractions |
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| Authors: | Alison T. Miller Singley Silvia A. Bunge |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Psychology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USAatms@berkeley.edu;3. Department of Psychology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA;4. Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACTFractions are defined by numerical relationships, and comparing two fractions’ magnitudes requires within-fraction (holistic) and/or between-fraction (componential) relational comparisons. To better understand how individuals spontaneously reason about fractions, we collected eye-tracking data while they performed a fraction comparison task with conditions that promoted or obstructed different types of comparisons. We found evidence for both componential and holistic processing in this mixed-pairs task, consistent with the hybrid theory of fraction representation. Additionally, making within-fraction eye movements on trials that promoted a between-fraction comparison strategy was associated with slower responses. Finally, participants who performed better on a non-numerical test of reasoning took longer to respond to the most difficult fraction trials, which suggests that those who had greater facility with non-numerical reasoning attended more to numerical relationships. These findings extend prior research and support the continued investigation into the mechanistic links between numerical and non-numerical reasoning. |
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| Keywords: | Eye-tracking mathematical reasoning relational reasoning fractions magnitude |
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