Not all numbers are equal: preferences and biases among children and adults when generating random sequences.

• Main Authors: John Nicholas Towse, Tobias eLoetscher, Peter eBrugger
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2014-01-01
• Series: Frontiers in Psychology
• Subjects: spatial cognition; cognitive development; Numerical cognition; random generation; number preferences
• Online Access: http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00019/full

We investigate the number preferences of children and adults when generating random digit sequences. Previous research has shown convincingly that adults prefer smaller numbers when randomly choosing between responses 1-6. We analyse randomisation choices made by both children and adults, considering a range of experimental studies and task configurations. Children – most of whom are between 8 and 11 years- show a preference for relatively large numbers when choosing numbers 1-10. Adults show a preference for small numbers with the same response set. We report a modest association between children’s age and numerical bias. However, children also exhibit a small number bias with a smaller response set available, and they show a preference specifically for the numbers 1-3 across many datasets. We argue that number space demonstrates both continuities (numbers 1-3 have a distinct status) and change (a developmentally emerging bias towards the left side of representational space or lower numbers).