Abstract
In two experiments, we found evidence for individual differences in the obligatory activation of addition facts. Subjects were required to verify the presence of a target digit (e. g., 4) in a previously presented pair (e. g., 5 + 4). Subjects rejected targets that formed the sum of the initial pair (e. g., 5+4 and 9) more slowly than they rejected unrelated targets (e. g., 5+4 and 7). This interference of the sum was largest for subjects who were relatively skilled at multidigit arithmetic. Less skilled subjects did not show statistically significant effects of obligatory activation. In comparison with less skilled subjects, skilled subjects showed differential interference on plus-one (e. g., 34 1) and standard (e. g, 2+3) problems when the plus sign was presented, and on ties (e. g., 22) when the plus sign was omitted. These results suggest that network models of arithmetic fact retrieval are appropriate for skilled subjects, but that alternative models need to be considered for less skilled individuals.
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This research was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada by a gram to J L Experiment I was presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Psychological Association in Ottawa. May 1990 We thank Stephanie Grecnham for her as sistance with Experiment 2 Mark Ashcraft, Jeffrey Bisanz, Stephanie Greenham. Chris Herdmart. Michael McCloskey. Kevin Miller, and Mike Thibodcau provided helpful comments on earlier versions of this manusenpt A. G. K, is now at Wilfrid Laurier University
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LeFevre, JA., Kulak, A.G. Individual differences in the obligatory activation of addition facts. Memory & Cognition 22, 188–200 (1994). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03208890
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03208890