Mathematics on News: How do Students Interpret Percentages in Daily Life Situations?

Year 2023, Volume: 7 Issue: Special Issue 2 - Education and Psychology Research in the 100th Anniversary of the Republic, 442 - 453, 25.10.2023

Ayşe Bağdat Osman Bağdat

https://doi.org/10.54535/rep.1360056

Abstract

Contexts with real-life situations can be more motivating for students, increase students' attitudes and interest, and strengthen the connection between mathematics and daily life. This study examined student interpretations of News texts consisting entirely of real-life situations and including percentage representations. In this qualitative case study, data were obtained from 30 8th grade students. Students were asked 6 News texts containing various percentage values and were expected to explain what they understood from these percentage values. The data obtained from the study were subjected to content analysis and interpreted by authors. The results indicate that students have difficulty in interpreting real-life situations involving percentage representation, and very few students make clear and understandable comments about real-life situations. It suggests that most students focused solely on the numerical growth of the percentage expression. Some students struggled with the News text, while others provided irrelevant, unclear, or meaningless responses. According to these findings, it is recommended that students' interpretations of real-world context in mathematics lessons be discussed more frequently in the classroom settings.

Keywords

Contexts, Mathematics, Middle school students, Percentages, Real life situations

References

• Doğuz-Karahan, G. & Genç, M. (2022). Exploring problem-posing skills of eighth-grade students about percentages. Anadolu Journal of Educational Sciences International, 13(1), 79-117. https://doi.org/0.18039/ajesi.1122999
• Erdem, E., Özçelik, A., & Gürbüz, R. (2018). Difficulties encountered by 7th graders in the subject ‘percent’ and suggestions. Journal of Inonu University Educational Faculty, 19(3), 638-653. https://doi.org/10.17679/inuefd.345749
• Gay, A. S. (1990). A study of middle school students' understanding of number sense related to percent (Doctoral dissertation, Oklahoma State University, 1990). Dissertation Abstracts International, 52(02), 4. Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/docview/303876761?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true
• Hope, M (2007). Mathematical literacy. Principal leadership, 7(5), 28-31. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ej767854
• Kabael, T., & Barak, B. (2016). Research of middle school pre-service mathematics teachers’ mathematical literacy on PISA items. Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education (TURCOMAT), 7(2), 321-349. http://doi.org/10.16949/turcomat.73360
• Koay, P.L. (1998). The knowledge of percent of pre-service teachers. Mathematics Educator. 3(2), 54-69. Retrieved from https://repository.nie.edu.sg/bitstream/10497/113/1/TME-3-2-54.pdf
• Lestiana, H. T. (2021). What are the difficulties in learning percentages? An overview of prospective mathematics teachers’ strategies in solving percentage problems. Indonesian Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 4(3), 260-273. http://doi.org/10.24042/ijsme.v4i3.10132
• Ministry of National Education (MoNE)]. (2013). Elementary mathematics teaching curriculum for primary education grades 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Ankara: MoNE Publishing.
• Ministry of National Education [MoNE]. (2020). International student assessment program PISA 2018 national preliminary report. Ankara: MoNE Publishing. Retrieved from http://pisa.meb.gov.tr/www/raporlar/icerik/5
• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics [NCTM] (2000). Principles and standards for school mathematics. Reston, VA: Author.
• OECD (2009). Learning mathematics for life: A perspective from PISA. OECD Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/education/
• OECD, (2012). PISA 2009 technical report. OECD Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/education/
• Ozan Leylum, Ş., Odabaşı, H. F., & Kabakçı Yurdakul, I. (2017). The ımportance of case study research in educational settings. Journal of Qualitative Research in Education, 5(3), 369-385. http://doi.org/10.14689/issn.2148- 2624.1.5c3s16m
• Özçelik, A., & Tutak, T. (2017). The effect of teaching the subject of percentages and interest in 7th grade based on realistic mathematics education on students’ achievement and attitude. Journal of Electronic Educational Sciences, 6(12), 204-216. Retrieved from https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/ejedus/issue/31928/349880
• Özgeldi, M., & Osmanoğlu, A. (2017). Connecting mathematics to real life: An investigation on how prospective secondary mathematics teachers build real life connections. Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education, 8(3), 438-458. https://doi.org/10.16949/turkbilmat.298081
• Parker, M., & Leinhardt, G. (1995). Percent: A privileged proportion. Review of Educational Research, 65(4), 421-481. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543065004421
• Piaget, J. & Inhelder, B. (1973). Memory and intellegence. New York, NY: Basic Books. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315719207
• Rianasari, V. F., Budaya, I. K., & Patahudin, S. M. (2012). Supporting students' understanding of percentage. Journal on Mathematics Education, 3(1), 29-40. https://doi.org/10.22342/jme.3.1.621.29-40
• Singletary, L. M. (2012). Mathematical connections made in practice: An examination of teachers’ belief and practices (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Georgia, Athens. Retrieved from https://getd.libs.uga.edu/pdfs/singletary_laura_m_201208_phd.pdf
• Stylianides, A. J., & Stylianides, G. J. (2008). Studying the implementation of tasks in classroom settings: High-level mathematics tasks embedded in “real-life” contexts. Teaching and Teacher Education, 24, 859-875. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2007.11.015
• Van Den Heuvel-Panhuizen, M. (1994). Improvement of (didactical) assessment by improvement of problems: An attempt with respect to percentage. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 27(4), 341-372. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01273377
• Yin, R. K. (2009). Case study methods: design and methods (4th Edition). Thousand Oaks: Sage Pbc.
• Yıldırım, A. & Şimşek, H. (2011). Qualitative research methods in social sciences (8th Edition). Ankara: Seçkin Publishing.