Text Comprehension as a Mediator in Solving Mathematical Reality-Based Tasks: The Impact of Linguistic Complexity, Cognitive Factors, and Social Background

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

Successfully solving reality-based tasks requires both mathematical and text comprehension skills. Previous research has shown that mathematical tasks requiring language proficiency have lower solution rates than those that do not, indicating increased difficulty through textual input. Therefore, it is plausible to assume that a lack of text comprehension skills leads to performance problems. Given that different sociodemographic characteristics and cognitive factors can influence task performance, this study aims to determine whether text comprehension mediates the relationship between these factors and competence in solving reality-based tasks. Additionally, it examines the impact of systematic linguistic variation in texts. Using an experimental design, 428 students completed three reality-based tasks (word count: M = 212.4, SD = 19.7) with different linguistic complexities as part of a paper-pencil test. First, students answered questions about the situation-related text comprehension of each text, followed by a mathematical question to measure their competence in solving reality-based tasks. The results indicate that: a) Tasks with texts of lower linguistic complexity have a significantly higher solution rate for both text comprehension (d = 0.189) and mathematical tasks (d = 0.119). b) Cognitive factors are significant predictors of mathematical solutions. c) Text comprehension mediates the relationship between the impact of students’ cultural resources and cognitive factors and their competence to solve reality-based tasks. These findings highlight the importance of linguistic complexity for mathematical outcomes and underscore the need to reinforce text comprehension practice in mathematical education owing to its mediating role.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEuropean Journal of Educational Research
Volume14
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)23-39
Number of pages17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15.01.2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 The Author(s).

DOI

Recently viewed

Publications

  1. Modelling and implementation of an Order2Cash Process in distributed systems
  2. FFTSMC with Optimal Reference Trajectory Generated by MPC in Robust Robotino Motion Planning with Saturating Inputs
  3. On the Nonlinearity Compensation in Permanent Magnet Machine Using a Controller Based on a Controlled Invariant Subspace
  4. Fixed-term Contracts and Wages Revisited Using Linked Employer-Employee Data from Germany
  5. A Gait Pattern Generator for Closed-Loop Position Control of a Soft Walking Robot
  6. The elicitation process in developing of case library for Case-Based Reasoner system whilst consideration for validating electronic communication technologies
  7. Export Intensity and Plant Characteristics: What can we learn from Quantile Regression?
  8. Proceedings of TextGraphs-17: Graph-based Methods for Natural Language Processing
  9. Don’t underestimate the problems of user centredness in software development projectsthere are many!?
  10. Control versus Complexity
  11. Children's use of spatial skills in solving two map-reading tasks in real space.
  12. Selecting and Adapting Methods for Analysis and Design in Value-Sensitive Digital Social Innovation Projects: Toward Design Principles
  13. Template-based Question Answering using Recursive Neural Networks
  14. NH4+ ad-/desorption in sequencing batch reactors
  15. Reality-Based Tasks with Complex-Situations
  16. Automated Invoice Processing: Machine Learning-Based Information Extraction for Long Tail Suppliers
  17. Using corpus-linguistic methods to track longitudinal development
  18. Toward Application and Implementation of in Silico Tools and Workflows within Benign by Design Approaches