Arithmetic Skills in Using Algorithms

Abstract

An algorithm is a series of steps or operations that, when sequentially applied, produces a solution to a problem. Properly applied, algorithms are helpful when a complex or difficult numerical question can be broken into subquestions. This paper identifies and details a serious barrier to the effective use of algorithms: weak mathematical skills. Given an algorithm of 13 steps requiring copying, converting from percentages to proportions, adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing, 78 percent of our subjects made one or more errors in the task. These results suggest that decision aids to be tested on the population for which they were intended, to avoid problems arising from unexpected deficits in users' knowledge and skills. Keywords: Knowledge retrieval, Decomposed quantitative judgements.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA226272

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  • Donald Macgregor
  • Sarah Lichtenstein

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  • Human Systems

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  • Arithmetic
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