Effects of word-evoked object size on covert numerosity estimations

Magda L. Dumitru, Gitte H. Joergensen

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    Abstract

    We investigated whether the size and number of objects mentioned in digit-word expressions influenced participants' performance in covert numerosity estimations (i.e., property probability ratings). Participants read descriptions of big or small animals standing in short, medium, and long rows (e.g., There are 8 elephants/ants in a row) and subsequently estimated the probability that a health statement about them was true (e.g., All elephants/ants are healthy). Statements about large animals scored lower than statements about small animals, confirming classical findings that humans perceive groups of large objects as being more numerous than groups of small objects (Binet, 1890) and suggesting that object size effects in covert numerosity estimations are particularly robust. Also, statements about longer rows scored lower than statements about shorter rows (cf. Sears, 1983) but no interaction between factors obtained, suggesting that quantity information is not fully retrieved in digit-word expressions or that their values are processed separately.
    Original languageEnglish
    Article number876
    Pages (from-to)1-6
    Number of pages6
    JournalFrontiers in Psychology
    Volume6
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2015

    Bibliographical note

    Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

    Keywords

    • numerosity estimation
    • digit—word expression
    • numerical cognition
    • embodied cognition

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