Year: 2007
Type: article
Abstract: This paper investigates how people build interpretations of compound mathematical expressions in a novel formal system. In traditional arithmetic, interpretations are guided by an order of precedence convention (times and division precede addition and subtraction). This order is supported by a spatial convention that supports the order of precedence. In the experiment described here, participants learned computation tables of two simple novel operators, and then were asked to discover a precedence rule. The operators were presented with a physical spacing convention that either aligned with the precedence order, opposed it, or randomly opposed or aligned with the precedence order. Participants were more likely to reach a criterion of successful performance when the order of operations aligned with the precedence order, and did so more quickly than either other group. The results indicate that reasoners integrate salient perceptual cues with formal knowledge following familiar conventions, even on novel systems.
Authors: David Landy, Robert L. Goldstone
Language: English
Subfield: Statistics and Probability
Field: Mathematics
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2767567303