MoneyMath-3E - Thinking about money - FHSE - University of Luxembourg I Uni.lu

PhD project in DTU 'Experiments, Ethics and Economics' on the influence of money on mathematical thinking and learning

The project at a glance

Start date:

01 Oct 2021
Duration in months:

48
Funding:

FNR Luxembourg
Principal Investigator(s):

Christine SCHILTZ

Marc Suhrcke (external)

About

Considering the importance of mathematics in modern society, understanding number concepts and being able to do mathematics is a critical skill set for autonomous citizen. Yet, numbers concepts are highly abstract and mathematical problem solving processes require elaborate and laboriously learned cognitive skills. Money is a highly interesting case with respect to the abstract nature of numerals, since it reunites in a unique manner the abstract aspect of number symbols with concrete, material value. School curricula typically introduce money as a numerical object relatively early, approximatively around second grade. At this stage, children are still learning to conceive and represent number symbols in efficient and automatic manners. The contrast between the abstract nature of symbolic numbers and children’s natural preference to deal with concrete sensori-motor information constitutes a particular challenge at this developmental stage. The concrete, material characteristics of money might constitute a valuable tool for mathematical learning and instruction. However, knowledge concerning children’s processing of numerical related information to money is very scarce. Moreover, little is known about the potential pedagogical value of using money in early math education. Using money and monetary transaction situations in school might thus constitute an interesting pedagogical approach to foster and facilitate early numerical and mathematical learning. The present research will aim at investigating this question, considering both cognitive as well as affective and motivational aspects associated with the use of money. In sum, the present PhD project aims to shed light on money processing and its potential interest for math education. This should hopefully lead to a better understanding of the cognitive, affective and motivational aspects of our ability to deal with money. The Doctoral Training Unit (DTU) 3E – Experiments, Ethics and Economics – consists of an interdisciplinary consortium of 9 social scientists who use scientific experiments involving human subjects in their research. The objective of the consortium is to create a formal link for collaboration across the three existing social science research laboratories in Luxembourg, with the aim to push forward the state-of-the-art of what we know about human behavior in economic interactions.