Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-1-2020
Journal
Developmental science
Volume
23
Issue
2
First Page
e12897
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1111/desc.12897
Abstract
Research demonstrating that infants discriminate between small (e.g., 1 vs. 3 dots) and large numerosities (e.g., 8 vs. 16 dots) is central to theories concerning the origins of human numerical abilities. To date, there has been no quantitative meta-analysis of the infant numerical competency data. Here, we quantitatively synthesize the evidential value of the available literature on infant numerosity discrimination using a meta-analytic tool called p-curve. In p-curve the distribution of available p-values is analyzed to determine whether the published literature examining particular hypotheses contains evidential value. p-curves demonstrated evidential value for the hypotheses that infants can discriminate between both small and large unimodal and cross-modal numerosities. However, the analyses also revealed that the published data on infants' ability to discriminate between large numerosities is less robust and statistically powered than the data on their ability to discriminate small numerosities. We argue there is a need for adequately powered replication studies to enable stronger inferences in order to use infant data to ground theories concerning the ontogenesis of numerical cognition.
Citation of this paper:
Smyth, R. E., & Ansari, D. (2020). Do infants have a sense of numerosity? A p-curve analysis of infant numerosity discrimination studies. Developmental science, 23(2), e12897. https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.12897
Notes
"This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Smyth, R. E., & Ansari, D. (2020). Do infants have a sense of numerosity? A p-curve analysis of infant numerosity discrimination studies. Developmental science, 23(2), e12897. https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.12897, which has been published in final form at https://doi-org.proxy1.lib.uwo.ca/10.1111/desc.12897. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited."