TY - JOUR
T1 - Model method drawing acts as a double-edged sword for solving inconsistent word problems
AU - de Koning, Björn B.
AU - Boonen, Anton J.H.
AU - Jongerling, Joran
AU - van Wesel, Floryt
AU - van der Schoot, Menno
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s).
PY - 2022/9
Y1 - 2022/9
N2 - Drawing bar diagrams has been shown to improve performance on mathematical word problems wherein the relational keyword is consistent with the required arithmetic operation. This study extends this by testing the effectiveness of bar diagram drawing for word problems with an inconsistent keyword-arithmetic operation mapping. Seventy-five fifth graders solved consistent and inconsistent word problems while encouraged to draw bar diagrams. For each word problem, we assessed problem type (consistent/inconsistent), performance (correct/incorrect), and bar diagrams (accurate/inaccurate/no drawing). Overall, bar diagram drawing was associated with increased performance on both consistent and inconsistent word problems, but the strongest benefits of drawing were found for inconsistent word problems. For inconsistent word problems, bar diagram accuracy was more clearly related to performance (accurate bar diagrams related to correct answers, but inaccurate ones to incorrect answers) than for consistent word problems. We conclude that bar diagram drawing provides an effective graphical support for solving inconsistent word problems.
AB - Drawing bar diagrams has been shown to improve performance on mathematical word problems wherein the relational keyword is consistent with the required arithmetic operation. This study extends this by testing the effectiveness of bar diagram drawing for word problems with an inconsistent keyword-arithmetic operation mapping. Seventy-five fifth graders solved consistent and inconsistent word problems while encouraged to draw bar diagrams. For each word problem, we assessed problem type (consistent/inconsistent), performance (correct/incorrect), and bar diagrams (accurate/inaccurate/no drawing). Overall, bar diagram drawing was associated with increased performance on both consistent and inconsistent word problems, but the strongest benefits of drawing were found for inconsistent word problems. For inconsistent word problems, bar diagram accuracy was more clearly related to performance (accurate bar diagrams related to correct answers, but inaccurate ones to incorrect answers) than for consistent word problems. We conclude that bar diagram drawing provides an effective graphical support for solving inconsistent word problems.
KW - Arithmetic word problem solving
KW - Compare problems
KW - Consistency effect
KW - Model method
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85128748074
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85128748074&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10649-022-10150-8
DO - 10.1007/s10649-022-10150-8
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85128748074
SN - 0013-1954
VL - 111
SP - 29
EP - 45
JO - Educational Studies in Mathematics
JF - Educational Studies in Mathematics
IS - 1
ER -