ISSN 1671-3710
CN 11-4766/R
主办:中国科学院心理研究所
出版:科学出版社

›› 2012, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (4): 542-551.

• 研究前沿 • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Relationships Between Mathematical Ability and Decision Making: A Perspective of Individual Difference

ZHOU Zheng;XIN Zi-Qiang   

  1. (1 Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)
    (2 Department of Psychology at School of Social Development, Central University of Finance and Economics,
    Beijing 100081, China)
  • Received:2011-07-11 Revised:1900-01-01 Online:2012-04-15 Published:2012-04-15
  • Contact: XIN Zi-Qiang

Abstract: Though in similar conditions, different people make diversified decisions. Such variance may derive from different levels of mathematical ability, which includes numeracy, quantity representation, probability inference, and numerical heuristics. Researchers have adopted two distinguishing paradigms in order to take an insight to the influence of mathematical ability. The most commonly used paradigm is the correlation method through which mathematical ability is regarded as an external correlate factor of decision-making; the other is the component paradigm which is applied to identify specific mathematical ability components involved in a decision-making process. Debates of the recent research lie in not only the role of mathematical ability and general cognition in decision-making, but also whether mathematical ability consistently makes a positive contribution to decision-making. Dual-system theory and fuzzy-trace theory could offer a framework for the explanation of individual difference in decision-making. Further research should focus on clarifying the above-mentioned controversy, developing a more efficient research paradigm and an unified explanation framework, as well as discovering methods to help people improve decision performance.

Key words: decision-making, mathematical ability, individual difference, dual-system theory, fuzzy-trace theory