Number Identification: A Unique Developmental Pathway in Mathematics?

Cramman, H.; Gott, S.; Little, J.; Merrell, C.; Tymms, P.; Copping, L.T.

Abstract

We make a prima facie case for identifying a single pathway in the learning of Hindu-Arabic numerical symbols and discuss why this ability may be a critical gateway concept in developing mathematical competencies. A representative sample of English and Scottish children was assessed using a number symbol identification paradigm in the Performance Indicators in Primary Schools (PIPS) Baseline assessment at the beginning and end of their first school year. Through a Rasch analysis of real and simulated data, we show that: (1) there appears to be a single, unidimensional pathway in learning to identify number symbols with discrete difficulty stages, (2) on examination of differential item functioning, this pathway is invariant across gender, country, socio-economic background, first language and across the first year of schooling and (3) almost all children make progress along the pathway during the year. A number identification scale may thus be a universal ruler by which all pupils could be assessed.

Citation

Cramman, H., Gott, S., Little, J., Merrell, C., Tymms, P., & Copping, L. (2020). Number Identification: A Unique Developmental Pathway in Mathematics?. Research Papers in Education, 35(2), 117-143. https://doi.org/10.1080/02671522.2018.1536890

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 11, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Nov 1, 2018
• Publication Date: 2020
• Deposit Date: Oct 17, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: May 1, 2020
• Journal: Research Papers in Education
• Print ISSN: 0267-1522
• Electronic ISSN: 1470-1146
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 35
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 117-143
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02671522.2018.1536890