An early numeracy digital brief assessment: parametric and non-parametric IRT models
Resumen:
Developing efficient and reliable tools for assessing early mathematical skills remains a critical priority in educational research. This study aimed to develop and validate a brief version of the Prueba Uruguaya de Matemática (Uruguayan Mathematics Test, PUMa), a digital tool to assess mathematical abilities in children aged 5 to 6. The test comprises both symbolic and non-symbolic dimensions, including tasks as approximate number system, counting, numerical ordering (forward and backward), math fluency, composition and decomposition of numbers, and transcoding auditory-verbal stimuli into Arabic-visual symbols. Using a sample of 443 participants and applying parametric and non-parametric models within the framework of Item Response Theory (IRT), along with correlations with TEMA-3, we generated preliminary evidence that the brief version retained both precision and validity. The resulting brief test, consisting of nearly half the original items, achieved a balanced representation of symbolic and non-symbolic tasks. These findings highlight the efficiency of digital tools for real-time data collection and their potential to enable scalable early interventions. Such advancements support personalized educational strategies, fostering cognitive and academic growth from an early age.
| 2025 | |
| Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación | |
|
Cognición matemática| Aprendizaje Educación Ciencias Sociales Ciencias de la Educación Psicología |
|
| Inglés | |
| Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación | |
| REDI | |
| https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12381/3905 | |
| Acceso abierto | |
| Reconocimiento 4.0 Internacional. (CC BY) |