ERIC Number: EJ1219094
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2148-9955
EISSN: N/A
Examination of Freshmen's Conceptual Knowledge on Function in the Context of Multiple Representations
Doruk, Muhammet
International Journal of Research in Education and Science, v5 n2 p587-599 Sum 2019
The aim of this study is to question freshmen's conceptual knowledge on function. In this context, after the teaching of the function, students' skills of defining the concept of function, interpreting the definition and multirepresentation for the function were examined. In the study, qualitative research approach was adopted and was an example of a case study. The participants of the study constitute 15 students who were educated in the first class of the classroom teaching department of a state university in Turkey. The data of the study was collected in four consecutive stages. Each stage was arranged according to the information obtained from the previous stage. The students were applied to the understanding form (AF), Multi-representation form (MRF), algebraic and graphical representation form (AGRF) and semistructured interview form (IF) for the function concept developed by the researcher respectively. As a result of the study, it emerged that more than half of the students have difficulty interpreting the definition, although the function was accurately defined. It was found that students were more successful in the schema and list representations than algebraic and graphical representations of function. Moreover, students had difficulty in transforming between algebraic and graphical representations. In general, sources of these difficulties were; lack of adequate understanding of the function definition, not taking into consideration domains of functions, complex structure of the concept of function and negativity of the students' mathematical backgrounds.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, College Freshmen, Knowledge Level, Mathematics Instruction, Student Attitudes, College Mathematics, Mathematical Concepts, Algebra, Graphs
International Journal of Research in Education and Science. Necmettin Erbakan University, Ahmet Kelesoglu Education Faculty, Meram, Konya 42090 Turkey. e-mail: ijresoffice@gmail.com; Web site: http://www.ijres.net
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Turkey
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A