The investigation of Middle School Students’ Misconceptions about Algebra
Abstract
This qualitative study focused on the errors and misconceptions of the seventh grade students in their solutions for algebraic equations. For this aim, a question sheet including 17 algebraic expressions were implemented to 10 seventh grade middle school students in a middle school of Ankara. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with two participants. After administering the question sheets, the answers of the students were categorized by coding the misconceptions of the students. Then the written and recorded answers were organized, coded, categorized and discussed. The results showed that, mostly observed misconceptions among the participants’ solutions for the algebraic expressions were (a) inability of making operations between the variables based on the lack of knowledge about arithmetical operations, (b) believing that the variables are used only for the natural numbers, and (c) ignoring the letters included in the algebraic expressions.
Keywords
References
- Akkaya, R., & Durmuş, S. (2006). İlköğretim 6-8.sınıf öğrencilerinin cebir öğrenme alanındaki kavram yanılgıları, Hacettepe Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 31, 1-12.
- Asquith, P., Stephens, A. C., Knuth, E. J., & Alibali, M. W. (2007). Middle school mathematics teachers’ knowledge of students’ under- standing of core algebraic concepts: Equal sign and variable. Mathematical Thinking and Learning: An International Journal, 9(3), 249–272.
- Baroudi (2006). Easing students’ transition to algebra, Australian Mathematics Teacher, 62 (2), 28-33.
- Behr, M., Erlwanger, S., & Nichols, E. (1980). How children view the equal sign, Mathematics Teaching, 92, 13-15.
- Booth, J.L., & Koedinger, K.R. (2008). Key misconceptions in algebraic problem solving. In B.C. Love, K. McRae, & V. M. Sloutsky (Eds.), Proceedings of the 30th Annual Cognitive Science Society (pp. 571-576). Austin, TX: Cognitive Science Society.
- Booth, J., Mcginn, K., Barbieri, C. A., & Young, L. K. (2017). Misconceptions and learning algebra. Retrieved May 2019 from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/309344387.
- Cangelosi, R., Madrid, S., Cooper, S., Olson, J., & Hartter, B. (2013). The negative sign and exponential expressions: Unveiling students’ persistent errors and misconceptions. The Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 32(1), 69–82.
- Chi, M.T.H. (1978). Knowledge structures and memory development. In R.S. Siegler (Ed.), Children’s thinking: What develops? (pp. 73-96). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Studies on Education
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Publication Date
June 30, 2019
Submission Date
December 31, 2018
Acceptance Date
June 25, 2019
Published in Issue
Year 2019 Volume: 3 Number: 1
Studies in Educational Research and Development (SERD) is licensed under