What Eye Tracking Tells Us About Mathematical Difficulties: A Systematic Review

Abstract: Eye tracking is a popular method used in mathematics research for investigating underlying cognitive processes. Individuals with mathematical difficulties have problems with mastering mathematical skills and are often in need of extra help. This systematic review aimed to review eleven studies (nine samples) published between 2002 and 2020 to assess whether eye tracking is a useful method for researching mathematical difficulties, and what research using eye tracking can say about mathematical difficulties. Eye tracking did reveal better accounts of cognitive processes compared to verbal reports. The results further showed that individuals with mathematical difficulties often used different strategies and tended to have more and sometimes longer fixations compared with typically developing individuals. In conclusion, eye tracking as a method seemed particularly useful for studying strategy use, discovering why and how errors occur and why response times differ. More research is needed to see longitudinal results, evaluate and compare tools and resources used in educational settings, and make conclusive statements across different cultures and age groups. This field of research would also benefit from clearly presenting all relevant aspects connected to eye tracking.