The Domain-general and Domain-specific Profiles of Computation and Problem-Solving Difficulties
Year: 2018
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The purpose of the study was to explore the domain-general and domain-specific profile of two important mathematics difficulties. Three domain-general measures (working memory, processing speed, reasoning), and three domain-specific measures (language comprehension, mathematics vocabulary, math fluency) were completed among 125 Chinese 4th grade students. Of these 125 students, 28 were classified as students with only calculation difficulties (CD), 34 were classified as having problem-solving difficulties (PD), 20 were classified as students with calculation and problem-solving difficulties (CPD), and 43 were typically developing (TD) peers. Multivariate analysis showed that, compared to TD, CD was associated with weakness in working memory and mathematics vocabulary. PD was associated with deficit in language comprehension as well as mathematics vocabulary. These findings, taken together, suggest that CD and PD represent distinct MD deficit. CD was associated with weakness in numerical working memory, whereas PD was associated with weakness in language comprehension. Both CD and PD were experiencing mathematics vocabulary deficit. Implications for understanding mathematics competence and identification of mathematics difficulties are discussed.
Source: Lincoln (University of Nebraska)
Author: Xin Lin
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2883584265