Who Can Order, Exactly?

Abstract

Studies have suggested that some preschool aged children who have displayed counting abilities (i.e., Cardinal Principle (CP) Knowers), fail to display understanding of certain fundamental aspects of numbers. Among these apparent lacunae is the ability to correctly order sequences of numerically related objects (i.e., Exact Numerical Order). This study explores this deficiency in relation to the general ability to order non-numerical objects. We found that many preschoolers are poor at ordering generally, such that assessment of number specific ordering ability is difficult. Nevertheless, early Exact Numerical Order ability was discovered even in non-CP Knowers for very small numbers. CP Knowledge was found to be requisite for subsequent acquisition of Exact Numerical Order ability for integers larger than three.