Courtesy of Panamath.org
Panamath
Humans' inborn "number sense" improves during school years, declines during old age and remains linked throughout the entire lifespan to academic mathematics achievement. So says a Johns Hopkins University study that has used the Web to collect data from more than 10,000 people ages 11 to 85. "Number sense" describes human and animals' inborn ability to intuitively size up the number of objects in their everyday environments.
Citizen scientists can take the same test used in this experiment by visiting the Panamath Web site. During the test, participants see a random number of circles on screen for 600 milliseconds (0.6 seconds). Their job is to decide whether there were more yellow circles or more blue circles.
Panamath measures a participant's Approximate Number System (ANS) aptitude. The simple task of deciding whether there are more blue dots or yellow dots in a brief flash says a lot about the accuracy of one's basic gut sense for numbers. Participants can view the results of their test immediately afterward and compare their performance with others in their age group.
Project Details
- PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST: Justin Halberda
- SCIENTIST AFFILIATION: The Johns Hopkins University
- DATES: Ongoing
- PROJECT TYPE: Observation
- COST: Free
- GRADE LEVEL: All Ages
- TIME COMMITMENT: Variable
- HOW TO JOIN:
Visit the study's Web site and fill out the necessary participant information.
See more projects in Free, Observation, All Ages.
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7 Comments
Add CommentThe entire rationale for generalization is based on the innocuous nature of the anomaly. Science seems to have adopted a self centered attitude ( along with the rest of the world ) regarding assessment of responsibility. The bias inherent in this article against individual potential could spawn an entirely new form of racial oppression. Way to spread your wings, Johns Hopkins.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhat's Your problem? Stay on topic.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis has nothing to do with a responsibility assessment. You need to pay attention and contribute to the conversation, or otherwise just shut up and not spew a half formed negative opinion on a strawman you set up that has nothing to do with the study.
This is testing number sense. It is measuring how well the whole testing population can estimate numbers.
If you have a problem with basic science, you don't belong here, perhaps go to church or something, because your illiterate outrage is not appropriate, necessary or welcome.
This test is intended to determine number sense, the inborn ability to intuitively size up the number of objects in their everyday environments. But it attaches a time limit to it, so speed of analysis plays a part. The article notes that number sense declines in old age.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPerhaps it is not the number sense that is declining but the brain is not processing as quickly. In other words, given a wee bit more time, perhaps their results would be much better.
Anyone that saw liberal bias in this article is hopelessly biased.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis article on "Number Sense" is of intense growing interest. We are inborn with number sense and it improves in school, college and university. It declines at the old age but can be prevented decay through meditation. Meditation enhances memory and number sense.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSuch article must be published frequently because it helps everybody.
S. N. Tiwary
Dean, Science Faculty
Director, ASC, UGC
Just did Panamath. Was intrigued enough to post a comment - something that I rarely do. After reading the gibberish already posted I decided to content myself with this. Get a life people.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thispapadick
As a member of the great unwashed, I think the test is a bow wow.
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