Learning Number Notations – Comparison of a Sign-Value and Place-Value System
Although numbers are universal, there are great differences between languages and cultures in terms of how they are represented. Numerical notation can influence number processing. Two well-known types of notational systems are sign-value, such as the Roman numeral system, and place-value systems, s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PsychOpen GOLD/ Leibniz Insitute for Psychology
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Numerical Cognition |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5964/jnc.13401 |
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| author | Hanna Weiers Camilla Gilmore Matthew Inglis |
| author_facet | Hanna Weiers Camilla Gilmore Matthew Inglis |
| author_sort | Hanna Weiers |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Although numbers are universal, there are great differences between languages and cultures in terms of how they are represented. Numerical notation can influence number processing. Two well-known types of notational systems are sign-value, such as the Roman numeral system, and place-value systems, such as the Indo-Arabic numeral system. What is involved in learning each system? Here we report a study that investigated adults’ abilities to implicitly learn an artificially created sign-value or place-value system. We asked if they could perform symbolic comparison and ordering tasks using the novel symbol system. We found adults could learn the ordinal meaning of symbols within either system and were able to extend the system to symbols not encountered during training. There was a relative advantage of the sign-value system over the place-value system for expressions encountered during the training, but also for expressions that had not previously been encountered. These results shed light on how easily the structure of place-value and sign-value systems can be learned. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c75c34443e784f6ead77ce33b970b6de |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2363-8761 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | PsychOpen GOLD/ Leibniz Insitute for Psychology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Numerical Cognition |
| spelling | doaj-art-c75c34443e784f6ead77ce33b970b6de2025-08-20T02:16:05ZengPsychOpen GOLD/ Leibniz Insitute for PsychologyJournal of Numerical Cognition2363-87612025-03-011110.5964/jnc.13401jnc.13401Learning Number Notations – Comparison of a Sign-Value and Place-Value SystemHanna Weiers0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2742-6856Camilla Gilmore1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5879-2683Matthew Inglis2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7617-4689Centre for Mathematical Cognition, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United KingdomCentre for Mathematical Cognition, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United KingdomCentre for Mathematical Cognition, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United KingdomAlthough numbers are universal, there are great differences between languages and cultures in terms of how they are represented. Numerical notation can influence number processing. Two well-known types of notational systems are sign-value, such as the Roman numeral system, and place-value systems, such as the Indo-Arabic numeral system. What is involved in learning each system? Here we report a study that investigated adults’ abilities to implicitly learn an artificially created sign-value or place-value system. We asked if they could perform symbolic comparison and ordering tasks using the novel symbol system. We found adults could learn the ordinal meaning of symbols within either system and were able to extend the system to symbols not encountered during training. There was a relative advantage of the sign-value system over the place-value system for expressions encountered during the training, but also for expressions that had not previously been encountered. These results shed light on how easily the structure of place-value and sign-value systems can be learned.https://doi.org/10.5964/jnc.13401artificial symbol learningplace-value systemsign-value systemsymbolic comparison task |
| spellingShingle | Hanna Weiers Camilla Gilmore Matthew Inglis Learning Number Notations – Comparison of a Sign-Value and Place-Value System Journal of Numerical Cognition artificial symbol learning place-value system sign-value system symbolic comparison task |
| title | Learning Number Notations – Comparison of a Sign-Value and Place-Value System |
| title_full | Learning Number Notations – Comparison of a Sign-Value and Place-Value System |
| title_fullStr | Learning Number Notations – Comparison of a Sign-Value and Place-Value System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Learning Number Notations – Comparison of a Sign-Value and Place-Value System |
| title_short | Learning Number Notations – Comparison of a Sign-Value and Place-Value System |
| title_sort | learning number notations comparison of a sign value and place value system |
| topic | artificial symbol learning place-value system sign-value system symbolic comparison task |
| url | https://doi.org/10.5964/jnc.13401 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hannaweiers learningnumbernotationscomparisonofasignvalueandplacevaluesystem AT camillagilmore learningnumbernotationscomparisonofasignvalueandplacevaluesystem AT matthewinglis learningnumbernotationscomparisonofasignvalueandplacevaluesystem |