Learning from where ‘eye’ remotely look or point: impact on number line estimation error in adults.

Abstract

In this paper we present an investigation into the use of visual cues during number
 line estimation, and their influence on cognitive processes for reducing number
 line estimation error. Participants completed a 0-1000 number line estimation task
 pre and post a brief intervention in which they observed static-visual or dynamicvisual
 cues (control, anchor, gaze cursor, mouse cursor) and also made estimation
 marks to test effective number-target estimation. Results indicated that a
 significant pre-test to post-test reduction in estimation error was present for
 dynamic visual cues of modelled eye-gaze and mouse-cursor. However, there was
 no significant performance difference between pre and post-test for the control or
 static anchor conditions. Findings are discussed in relation to the extent to which
 anchor points alone are meaningful in promoting successful segmentation of the
 number line, and whether dynamic cues promote the utility of these locations in
 reducing error through attentional guidance.