Analyzing Difficulties in Arithmetic Word Problem Solving: An Epistemological Case Study in Primary School
This paper focuses on difficulties that primary school students have in facing mathematical word problems. In particular, we are interested in exploring how they develop in the transition from grade 2 to grade 5. The research basis of the hypothesis is that some difficulties detected in grade 5 are...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Education Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/11/10/596 |
| _version_ | 1797514787560620032 |
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| author | Roberto Capone Federica Filiberti Alice Lemmo |
| author_facet | Roberto Capone Federica Filiberti Alice Lemmo |
| author_sort | Roberto Capone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper focuses on difficulties that primary school students have in facing mathematical word problems. In particular, we are interested in exploring how they develop in the transition from grade 2 to grade 5. The research basis of the hypothesis is that some difficulties detected in grade 5 are already predictable in grade 2. Starting from the data collected in grade 5 by the National Standardized Assessment, we carry out a quantitative analysis looking for word problems in which students experience difficulties. Subsequently, we conduct a backward analysis of the grade 2 test of the same cohort of students in order to identify a set of word problems linked with those selected in grade 5 test. The analysis shows the presence of many common difficulties in the two grades. We design and carry out specific educational activities concerning word problem-solving in grade 2. These activities produce positive changes in the experimental class compared to the control class. This could suggest that a previous intervention in grade 2 could allow overcoming future difficulties in word problem text comprehension in grade 5. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:36:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5410b35d5c3646f18786665dd86a66f1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-7102 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:36:31Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Education Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-5410b35d5c3646f18786665dd86a66f12023-11-22T18:00:25ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022021-09-01111059610.3390/educsci11100596Analyzing Difficulties in Arithmetic Word Problem Solving: An Epistemological Case Study in Primary SchoolRoberto Capone0Federica Filiberti1Alice Lemmo2Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, 84042 Fisciano, ItalyPrimary School Matese, 86019 Vinchiaturo, ItalyDepartment of Human Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, ItalyThis paper focuses on difficulties that primary school students have in facing mathematical word problems. In particular, we are interested in exploring how they develop in the transition from grade 2 to grade 5. The research basis of the hypothesis is that some difficulties detected in grade 5 are already predictable in grade 2. Starting from the data collected in grade 5 by the National Standardized Assessment, we carry out a quantitative analysis looking for word problems in which students experience difficulties. Subsequently, we conduct a backward analysis of the grade 2 test of the same cohort of students in order to identify a set of word problems linked with those selected in grade 5 test. The analysis shows the presence of many common difficulties in the two grades. We design and carry out specific educational activities concerning word problem-solving in grade 2. These activities produce positive changes in the experimental class compared to the control class. This could suggest that a previous intervention in grade 2 could allow overcoming future difficulties in word problem text comprehension in grade 5.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/11/10/596linguistic difficultiesproblem-solvingword problemsprimary teaching |
| spellingShingle | Roberto Capone Federica Filiberti Alice Lemmo Analyzing Difficulties in Arithmetic Word Problem Solving: An Epistemological Case Study in Primary School Education Sciences linguistic difficulties problem-solving word problems primary teaching |
| title | Analyzing Difficulties in Arithmetic Word Problem Solving: An Epistemological Case Study in Primary School |
| title_full | Analyzing Difficulties in Arithmetic Word Problem Solving: An Epistemological Case Study in Primary School |
| title_fullStr | Analyzing Difficulties in Arithmetic Word Problem Solving: An Epistemological Case Study in Primary School |
| title_full_unstemmed | Analyzing Difficulties in Arithmetic Word Problem Solving: An Epistemological Case Study in Primary School |
| title_short | Analyzing Difficulties in Arithmetic Word Problem Solving: An Epistemological Case Study in Primary School |
| title_sort | analyzing difficulties in arithmetic word problem solving an epistemological case study in primary school |
| topic | linguistic difficulties problem-solving word problems primary teaching |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/11/10/596 |
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