Discrete numerical estimation: a comparison between children and adults

Abstract

Numerical estimation is little studied in Brazil, although it has already a considerable international literature. However, most of these studies address the estimation ability of children, disregarding the higher stages of development of this ability when compared to adults. In this perspective, this study aims to compare the performance in discrete numerical estimation, for different forms of presentation of stimuli, between children, attending the 2nd to 6th grades (from public and private schools) and adult students in upper secondary education (Proeja) and higher education in mathematics. For this, we carried out a quantitative cross-sectional study based on the calculation of the relative accuracy presented by the students in a Discrete Numerical Estimation Test (DNET). The results indicated that 2nd and 3rd graders estimation skills are comparable to upper secondary adult students in most tasks. However, higher education students performed better in all tasks than the other students did. These results suggest that discrete numerical estimation is a skill that can be developed and improved throughout life, even in adulthood. In Mathematics Education, both children and adults are usually not accurate in their estimates, even though this ability is recognized as important for symbolic mathematical performance, based on the knowledge of number magnitudes.