People can represent quantities in different ways. Numbers can be represented non-symbolically through an Object Tracking System (for small quantities, when one immediately perceives how many objects are there) and an Approximate Number System (for large quantities), and symbolically, for example with Arabic symbols or words. One unresolved question is the extent to which using these numerical representations, and transferring between them, can be done automatically, or rather involves components of working memory. Key relevant working memory components are the phonological loop and the visuospatial sketchpad.

 

In this study, Xenidou-Dervou and colleagues (2022) will ask subjects to perform a dot comparison task with small and large numbers, to engage the non-symbolic systems, and a digit comparison task, to engage the symbolic system, and a cross modal task to engage translation between the systems. Participants will either perform these tasks alone or with a secondary task, one that loads either the phonological loop or else the visuospatial sketchpad. The extent of interference of the secondary task on the primary tasks will indicate the involvement of the corresponding working memory component with using and translating numerical representations which are either symbolic or non-symbolic. The results may thus shed light on the ways in which people can deal with numbers successfully – or fail to do so.

The Stage 1 manuscript was evaluated over two rounds of in-depth review. Based on detailed responses to the reviewers’ comments and edits to the Stage 1 report, the recommender judged that the manuscript met the Stage 1 criteria and therefore awarded in-principle acceptance (IPA).
 
URL to the preregistered Stage 1 protocol: https://osf.io/32qdw
 
Level of bias control achieved: Level 6. No part of the data or evidence that will be used to answer the research question yet exists and no part will be generated until after IPA.
 
List of eligible PCI RR-friendly journals:

 

 

 

Xenidou-Dervou, I., Appleton, C., & Gilmore, C. (2022). Can adults automatically process and translate between numerical representations? In principle acceptance of Version 4 by Peer Community in Registered Reports. https://osf.io/32qdw