Early arithmetic skills in children | Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program

Project Description

Arithmetic skills are foundational to academic success and play a crucial role in long-term achievement across STEM disciplines. This project aims to investigate how arithmetic abilities develop from childhood through adulthood and to identify the cognitive and experiential factors that shape this growth. Through behavioral testing and cognitive assessments, this research seeks to deepen our understanding of what drives numerical competence and how to foster it effectively across development.

Supervisor

CHENG Chen

Quota

2

Course type

UROP1000

UROP1100

UROP2100

UROP3100

UROP3200

UROP4100

Applicant's Roles

We are looking for committed, responsive team workers who are genuinely interested in child development and education. Students are expected to attend regular lab meetings. Students will be engaged in all kinds of research activities including 1) reviewing relevant literatures; 2) preparing experimental material; 3) participation recruitment and coordination; 4) conducting hands-on experiments in-person and online; 5) data-analysis; 6)poster preparation and presentation. Students are expected to have some basic data analysis skills (Excel, R, SPSS), programming knowledge (e.g., Python, PsychoPy, JSON) are recommended but not required.

Applicant's Learning Objectives

Through participation in this project, students will gain hands-on experience in developmental and cognitive research methods, including designing studies, administering behavioral tasks, and analyzing quantitative data. They will learn how to connect theoretical frameworks in cognitive psychology with real-world applications in education and learning sciences. Students will also develop skills in data management, statistical analysis, and critical interpretation of research findings. By the end of the project, participants will have a deeper understanding of how cognitive and environmental factors shape mathematical development and how research can inform effective educational practices.

Complexity of the project

Moderate