ERIC Number: EJ1064367
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Aug
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-2194
EISSN: EISSN-1538-4780
Cognitive Strategies, Working Memory, and Growth in Word Problem Solving in Children with Math Difficulties
H. Lee Swanson; Catherine M. Lussier; Michael J. Orosco
Journal of Learning Disabilities, v48 n4 p339-358 Jul-Aug 2015
This study investigated the role of strategy instruction and working memory capacity (WMC) on word problem solving accuracy in children with (n = 100) and without (n = 92) math difficulties (MD). Within classrooms, children in Grades 2 and 3 were randomly assigned to one of four treatment conditions: verbal-only strategies (e.g., underlining question sentence), verbal + visual strategies, visual-only strategies (e.g., correctly placing numbers in diagrams), or untreated control. Strategy interventions included 20 sessions in both Year 1 and Year 2. The intent-to-treat as well as the "as-treated" analyses showed that treatment effects were significantly moderated by WMC. In general, treatment outcomes were higher when WMC was set to a high rather than low level. When set to a relatively high WMC level, children with MD performed significantly better under visual-only strategy conditions and children without MD performed better under verbal + visual conditions when compared to control conditions.
Descriptors: Cognitive Style, Learning Strategies, Short Term Memory, Problem Solving, Accuracy, Mathematical Aptitude, Verbal Learning, Visual Learning, Intervention, Experimental Groups, Control Groups, Outcomes of Treatment, Grade 3, Norm Referenced Tests, Word Problems (Mathematics), Word Recognition, Reading Comprehension, Computation, Arithmetic, Cognitive Processes, Statistical Analysis, Retention (Psychology), Learning Disabilities, Grade 2, Multivariate Analysis
SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2814
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 2; Primary Education; Elementary Education; Early Childhood Education; Grade 3
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Raven Progressive Matrices; Wechsler Individual Achievement Test
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R324A090002
WWC Study Page: https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/WWC/Study/88697