Differential cognitive correlates in processing symbolic and situational mathematics

Abstract Symbolic and situational mathematics are the two major representations of mathematical knowledge. Although previous literature has studied the relationship between the two from the perspective of teaching practice, learning effectiveness and behavioural performance, there is still a lack of empirical psychological research on cognitive mechanisms to explore the psychological processes of the two. The current study investigated the relationship between symbolic and situational mathematics by determining the differences in cognitive correlates between the two in fourth‐grade children. Their symbolic and situational mathematics abilities were assessed using symbolic and situational enumeration tests under the same conditions. Several types of general cognitive abilities, language processing and academic achievements were also examined. Results showed that both situational and symbolic mathematics are crucial for mathematical achievement. Arithmetic computation is closely correlated with symbolic mathematics, whereas spatial processing and inductive reasoning ability are uniquely correlated with situational mathematics. The results suggest that situational and symbolic mathematics have separate cognitive correlates, which means the two are distinct in terms of psychological processing.