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Connecting the Dots: Non-linear Patterns in the Presence of Symbolic and Non-symbolic Numerical Standards
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Description: Much like other social and non-social evaluations, estimates of numerical quantities are susceptible to comparative influences. However, numerical representations can take either a non-symbolic (e.g., a grouping of dots) or a symbolic numerical form (e.g. a written number), which each produce comparative biases in opposite directions. The current work takes a fine-grained curve fitting approach across a wide range of values to the investigation of their potential non-linear influence in the context of a numerical estimation task. A series of 3 experiments (N = 1613) showed how non-symbolic standards produce linear contrastive patterns (Study 1), while symbolic numerical anchors show a cubic assimilative effect with a levelling-off in strength for more extreme standards (Study 2). Sequential contrast from the previous patterns and assimilation to the previous response were found to be present and additive in the presence of both representations, but were larger in absence of the symbolic numerical anchors (Study 3).