This document is 7th in the Journal for Research in Mathematics Education monograph series. The mathematical performance of (n=250) U.S. 6th-grade students from both private and public schools and (n=425) Chinese 6th-graders from both key and common schools was examined on multiple-choice tasks assessing computation and simple problem solving, and…

This study examined the differential effects of two instructional strategies, an explicit schema-based strategy and a general cognitive strategy, on the acquisition, maintenance, and generalization of mathematical word problem solving by students with mild disabilities and at-risk students. Twenty-three second, third, fourth, and fifth graders…

Statistics is assuming a new role in the mathematics curriculum for K-12 students. This bulletin presents excerpts from papers on two studies that were carried out to develop a knowledge base that would enhance statistics instruction in middle school classrooms. The first paper, "Statistics in Middle School: An Exploration of Students' Informal…

Thirty-three primary teachers were trained in the 1989 Standards for School Mathematics to study the relationship between the implementation of alternative assessment and such variables as: teacher grading orientation, class size, grade level, and student mathematical ability. Teachers were found to use knowledge level items significantly more…

Since the publication of "A Nation at Risk," (U.S. National Commission on Excellence in Education, 1983), several state and local educational authorities have increased the number of mathematics and science courses required for high school graduation. This report examines the relationships between the numbers of courses in mathematics…

Four classes (n=53) of Basic Algebra and five classes (n=50) of Intermediate Algebra in a community college setting were randomly assigned to sections either using or not using computer assisted instruction (CAI) supplemental to classroom instruction. Based on standardized pre- and posttest scores, students using supplemental CAI in Basic Algebra…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a preschool program on achievement of first through fourth grade students in reading and math. The subjects of this study were 208 elementary students from the Estill County (Kentucky) School District. All the students were white, from low to middle socioeconomic classes. The experimental…

This paper describes the implications of constructivism both for what to teach and for how to teach. The first part discusses three approaches on what to teach: (1) relating mathematical knowledge to other knowledge; (2) checking for self-consistency; and (3) putting thinking before facts. The second part is on how to teach based on…

Two of the most widely used academic self-efficacy assessment techniques, problem-referenced measurement and the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) were compared. Participants were 383 high school students from 4 Los Angeles (California) schools. Multi-trait multi-method analyses revealed that the two techniques were not…

This study was conducted in response to the perceived problems of growing non-participation rates of students in mathematics courses, particularly at Year 12 and beyond, and the decline in skill levels of students entering tertiary courses in science and mathematics. There are signs that mathematics has been devalued by society and the education…

This report is one of a series from a project entitled Case Studies in Evaluating the Benefits and Costs of Mediated Instruction and Distributed Learning. This project examines the benefits and costs of the mediated learning system (MLS) courseware for remedial mathematics developed by Academic Systems Corporation. Comparisons were made at two…

Receipt of welfare is often negatively correlated with children's outcomes. However, because virtually all children who live in households that receive public assistance are poor, the question arises whether poor child outcomes are truly an effect of welfare, have only a spurious relationship to welfare receipt, or are a result of welfare…

This booklet provides an overview of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Key findings from the Pursuing Excellence series of reports for each grade level as well as overall comparative findings are detailed. At the fourth grade level, U.S. students were above the international average in both science and mathematics. In…

This paper discusses an experiment designed to determine the effects of a problem-solving approach to instruction (PSAI) on eighth grade Algebra I students. Comparisons were made of the scores from the 1991 and 1993 Subject Area Testing Program--Algebra I of skills taught via PSAI and skills taught traditionally. In 1991 (n=56) eighth grade…

The 46 diagnostic mathematics tests cited in this bibliography are instruments to aid in analyzing students' strengths and weaknesses in various mathematical areas to provide more effective instruction. This document is one in a series of topical bibliographies from the Test Collection (TC) at Educational Testing Service (ETS) containing…