Students difficulties in learning algebra at lower secondary level
Date
2017
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Mathematics Education
Abstract
This study identified students’ difficulties in learning algebra at lower secondary
level. This study used a mixed method research design in Quan-Qual form. To fulfill the
objectives of this study, the researcher had taken primary data for the achievement test
and interview under the difficulties in conceptual area. The test contained questions from
five main areas of algebraic difficulties; variables, algebraic expressions, equations, word
problems and transition from arithmetic to algebra. After the test, ten students were
interviewed to find difficulties in learning algebra.
In this study, 150 students from two secondary schools of Nuwakot district were
taken for the sample study purposively. Achievement test and interviews were the tools
used in data collection procedure. Data were analyzed by both qualitative and
quantitative ways. The mean and percentage result of class-wise as well as overall
responses were calculated and drawn the conclusion on the basis of learning disability
theories and integrated mixed inferences.
The results indicated a number of difficulties under each area. Some difficulties
obtained from misunderstanding and misconception of algebra in which, the main reason
for difficulties were the lack of understanding of the basic concept of the variable in
different context, solving ways and rules, errors in simplification and guessing without
reasoning. The finding of the study concluded that, learning difficulties plays the vital
role to obtain the low achievement in algebra.
Description
Keywords
Learning algebra, Algebraic expression