Differences in Cognitive and Mathematical Skills of Students with a Mathematical Learning Disability and Those with Low Achievement in Mathematics: A Systematic Literature Review
The differences in the math learning process and the underlying cognitive skills of students with a mathematical learning disability and those who are low achieving in math are important to consider when supporting their learning. Still, there is a lack of a comprehensive overview comparing these tw...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Education Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/3/361 |
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| author | Triin Kivirähk-Koor Evelyn Kiive |
| author_facet | Triin Kivirähk-Koor Evelyn Kiive |
| author_sort | Triin Kivirähk-Koor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The differences in the math learning process and the underlying cognitive skills of students with a mathematical learning disability and those who are low achieving in math are important to consider when supporting their learning. Still, there is a lack of a comprehensive overview comparing these two groups’ cognitive skill deficits that are responsible for math learning difficulties. This systematic literature review aimed to fill this gap. This study revealed differences in the cognitive profiles of students with a mathematical learning disability and low-achieving students. Students with a mathematical learning disability showed significantly weaker domain-general cognitive skills than the control groups across most areas, while low-achieving students exhibited less pronounced differences compared to the controls. Additionally, students with a mathematical learning disability performed worse than low-achieving students in working memory and processing speed. In terms of domain-specific cognitive skills, both sample groups struggled with calculation compared to typical achievers, with students with a mathematical learning disability displaying weaker basic calculation skills than low achievers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-309cf798114f48ebb31ae7d01529c6e1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2227-7102 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Education Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-309cf798114f48ebb31ae7d01529c6e12025-08-20T03:43:26ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022025-03-0115336110.3390/educsci15030361Differences in Cognitive and Mathematical Skills of Students with a Mathematical Learning Disability and Those with Low Achievement in Mathematics: A Systematic Literature ReviewTriin Kivirähk-Koor0Evelyn Kiive1Institute of Education, University of Tartu, 51005 Tartu, EstoniaInstitute of Education, University of Tartu, 51005 Tartu, EstoniaThe differences in the math learning process and the underlying cognitive skills of students with a mathematical learning disability and those who are low achieving in math are important to consider when supporting their learning. Still, there is a lack of a comprehensive overview comparing these two groups’ cognitive skill deficits that are responsible for math learning difficulties. This systematic literature review aimed to fill this gap. This study revealed differences in the cognitive profiles of students with a mathematical learning disability and low-achieving students. Students with a mathematical learning disability showed significantly weaker domain-general cognitive skills than the control groups across most areas, while low-achieving students exhibited less pronounced differences compared to the controls. Additionally, students with a mathematical learning disability performed worse than low-achieving students in working memory and processing speed. In terms of domain-specific cognitive skills, both sample groups struggled with calculation compared to typical achievers, with students with a mathematical learning disability displaying weaker basic calculation skills than low achievers.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/3/361low achievementmathematical learning disabilitycognitive skillsmathematical skillssystematic literature review |
| spellingShingle | Triin Kivirähk-Koor Evelyn Kiive Differences in Cognitive and Mathematical Skills of Students with a Mathematical Learning Disability and Those with Low Achievement in Mathematics: A Systematic Literature Review Education Sciences low achievement mathematical learning disability cognitive skills mathematical skills systematic literature review |
| title | Differences in Cognitive and Mathematical Skills of Students with a Mathematical Learning Disability and Those with Low Achievement in Mathematics: A Systematic Literature Review |
| title_full | Differences in Cognitive and Mathematical Skills of Students with a Mathematical Learning Disability and Those with Low Achievement in Mathematics: A Systematic Literature Review |
| title_fullStr | Differences in Cognitive and Mathematical Skills of Students with a Mathematical Learning Disability and Those with Low Achievement in Mathematics: A Systematic Literature Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Differences in Cognitive and Mathematical Skills of Students with a Mathematical Learning Disability and Those with Low Achievement in Mathematics: A Systematic Literature Review |
| title_short | Differences in Cognitive and Mathematical Skills of Students with a Mathematical Learning Disability and Those with Low Achievement in Mathematics: A Systematic Literature Review |
| title_sort | differences in cognitive and mathematical skills of students with a mathematical learning disability and those with low achievement in mathematics a systematic literature review |
| topic | low achievement mathematical learning disability cognitive skills mathematical skills systematic literature review |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/3/361 |
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