Search

Two perspectives compete to explain how the surface form of digits affects cognitive processing of numerical magnitude; one argues for a common pathway and the other for separate pathways. This study examined the operand-related error effect in simple multiplication operations using different combinations of visually presented Arabic digits and auditorily presented Mandarin number words. The study suggested two conclusions, both consistent with the separate pathway perspective. First, the numerical surface form (Arabic digits, spoken Mandarin number words) affected retrieval. That is, surface properties were maintained as specific codes throughout processing. Second, the phonological code activated by spoken Mandarin number words interfered with activation of answers during retrieval.

Field-dependent/independent groups' numerical estimation was assessed with respect to different distractors. Participants were 81 college students with field-dependent or field-independent cognitive styles. Cognitive style had a significant main effect on reaction without distractors. When the number of distractors was double the number of targets, the estimation accuracy of the field-dependent and field-independent groups differed. Under this double-distractors condition, both the field-dependent and field-independent participants used logarithmic representation more than linear representation in their numerical estimations, but no significant between-group differences were found.