Mathematics in Popular Culture: An Investigation Through Videos

• In Event: 81.032 - MTCC Roundtable Session 37
  In Roundtable Session: 81.032-10 - Who Is Good at Mathematics? Conceptions in Classrooms and Popular Culture

Abstract

Mathematics education researchers have rarely focused on the effects of popular culture on young people’s perceptions of mathematics. Such research is needed to determine what messages students may be receiving; and furthermore, how students may be relating to these messages. These questions are critically important to the field – its research contributes to the better understanding of how young people are influenced by depictions of mathematics in popular culture. Research questions were explored relating to popular culture, media, and mathematics investigating whether secondary school students receive messages about mathematics from popular culture, the content of those messages, and how they relate to those messages. Of particular interest was determining if perceptions of mathematics in popular culture differ by gender and race.

Authors

• Gabor Salopek, The City University of New York

• Gregory Benoit, Boston University