Comment on http://scienceblogs.com/cognitivedaily/2009/05/how_are_numbers_related_to_you.php
In Arabic, numbers are written in the same system as in English (even though the symbols are different)- high digits on the left, low on the right. This is why we call our numerals in English “Arabic” numerals – as they came to us via Arabs from India. So, if there is an effect, it can’t be due to the way numbers are read.
(One thing though that has not occurred to me before. Do Arabic readers somehow “read” the numbers differently, given that interpreting the high digits first runs counter to the direction of the surrounding text? I taught science to Arab students for five years, so it’s a bit embarrassing that I never thought about this.)
However, I’m sceptical about the whole post, and agree with another comment about the lack of error bars. I think the “effect” needs further testing before time is wasted on explanations for it.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: arabic, cognitive, numbers, psychology
