Spatial Proportional Reasoning Is Associated With Formal Knowledge About Fractions

Proportional reasoning involves thinking about parts and wholes (i.e., about fractional quantities). Yet, research on proportional reasoning and fraction learning has proceeded separately. This study assessed proportional reasoning and formal fraction knowledge in 8- to 10-year-olds. Participants (N = 52) saw combinations of cherry juice and water in displays that highlighted either partâ€"whole or partâ€"part relations. Their task was to indicate on a continuous rating scale how much each mixture would taste of cherries. Ratings suggested the use of a proportional integration rule for both kinds of displays, although more robustly and accurately for partâ€"whole displays. The findings indicate that children may be more likely to scale proportional components when being presented with partâ€"whole as compared with partâ€"part displays. Crucially, ratings for partâ€"whole problems correlated with fraction knowledge, even after controlling for age

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