Despite high objective numeracy, lower numeric confidence relates to worse financial and medical outcomes.

ABSTRACT: People often laugh about being "no good at math." Unrecognized, however, is that about one-third of American adults are likely too innumerate to operate effectively in financial and health environments. Two numeric competencies conceivably matter-objective numeracy (ability to "run the numbers" correctly; like literacy but with numbers) and numeric self-efficacy (confidence that provides engagement and persistence in numeric tasks). We reasoned, however, that attaining objective numeracy's benefits should depend on numeric confidence. Specifically, among the more objectively numerate, having more numeric confidence (vs. less) should lead to better outcomes because they persist in numeric tasks and have the skills to support numeric success. Among the less objectively numerate, however, hav

SUBMITTER: Peters E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6765274 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature