Keywords

Processing of mathematical information, visualizers and nonvisualizers, preference for solution methods, gender difference, task difficulty, high school students' geometry performance

Abstract

In this quantitative study, the relationships between high school students' preference for solution methods, geometry performance, task difficulty, and gender were investigated. The data was collected from 161 high school students from six different schools at a county located in central Florida in the United States. The study was conducted during the 2013-2014 school year. The participants represented a wide range in socioeconomic status, were from a range of grades (10-12), and were enrolled in different mathematics courses (Algebra 2, Geometry, Financial Algebra, and Pre-calculus). Data were collected primarily with the aid of a geometry test and a geometry questionnaire. Using a think-aloud protocol, a short interview was also conducted with some students. For the purpose of statistical analysis, students' preferences for solution methods were quantified into numeric values, and then a visuality score was obtained for each student. Students' visuality scores ranged from -12 to +12. The visuality scores were used to assess students' preference for solution methods. A standardized test score was used to measure students' geometry performance. The data analysis indicated that the majority of students were visualizers. The statistical analysis revealed that there was not an association between preference for solution methods and students' geometry performance. The preference for solving geometry problems using either visual or nonvisual methods was not influenced by task difficulty. Students were equally likely to employ visual as well as nonvisual solution methods regardless of the task difficulty. Gender was significant in geometry performance but not in preference for solution methods. Female students' geometry performance was significantly higher than male students' geometry performance. The findings of this study suggested that instruction should be focused on incorporating both visual and nonvisual teaching strategies in mathematics lesson activities in order to develop preference for both visual and nonvisual solution methods.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2014

Semester

Summer

Advisor

Haciomeroglu, Erhan

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Education and Human Performance

Degree Program

Education; Mathematics Education

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0005374

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0005374

Language

English

Release Date

August 2014

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)

Subjects

Dissertations, Academic -- Education and Human Performance; Education and Human Performance -- Dissertations, Academic

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