Numerical comparison of two-digit numbers: How differences at encoding can involve differences in processing

Castronovo, Julie; Crollen, Virginie

Abstract

The study of two-digit numbers processing has recently gathered a growing interest. Here, we examine whether differences at encoding of two-digit oral verbal numerals induce differences in the type of processing involved. Twenty-four participants were submitted to a comparison task to 55. Differences at encoding were introduced by the use of dichotic listening and synchronous (synchronous condition) or asynchronous presentation (tens-first and units-first conditions) of the two-digit numerals' components. Our results showed that differences at the encoding stage of two-digit numerals involve: (1) different comparison processes (tens-first and units-first conditions: parallel comparison; synchronous condition: parallel and holistic comparison); and (2) differences in the weight of the tens-and units-effects. Therefore, attentional mechanisms determining at the encoding stage how much attention is paid to the two-digit numerals' components might account for the different types of processing found with two-digit numbers. © 2010 Psychology Press.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jul 5, 2011
• Print ISSN: 2044-5911
• Electronic ISSN: 2044-592X
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 8-17
• APA6 Citation: Castronovo, J., & Crollen, V. (2011). Numerical comparison of two-digit numbers: How differences at encoding can involve differences in processing. Journal of cognitive psychology, 23(1), 8-17. doi:10.1080/20445911.2011.445985
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/20445911.2011.445985
• Keywords: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology; Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)