Categorization of arithmetic word problems by normals, frontal and posterior-injured patients

Abstract

An important stage in the solution of mathematical word problems is the formation of a global internal representation of the problem. There is ample evidence that the recognition of problem schemata or problem types plays a major role in this representation stage. In the present study, a sorting task is used in order to examine the knowledge of arithmetical word-problem schemata in a group of normals, a group of patients with frontal lesions, and a group of patients with left posterior brain lesions. Quantitative and qualitative analyses show that normals classify the word problems according to principles that are essential for problem solving. These analyses also reveal that the general sorting dimensions of the frontal and the left posterior brain-damaged groups, as measured by a multidimensional scaling procedure, are similar. Cluster analysis shows that both groups base their sorting behavior mainly on superficial text characteristics, such as the objects found in the various word problems. The implications of these differences in sorting behavior for arithmetical word-problem solving are discussed.