Eighth-Grade Students' Conceptions of Substitution in Everyday Life: A Phenomenography

• In Event: Mathematical Thinking and Learning

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to present a phenomenography of the mathematical concepts of substitution. Phenomenography seeks to investigate the qualitatively different ways a group of people understands a phenomenon. The objective is to explore and categorize 34 middle school students' conceptions of substitution in everyday life. The exploration activity consisted of two second-order questions. The analysis revealed five qualitatively different ways that eighth-grade students conceptualized substitution. The study implies a phenomenography is a tool to systematically explore, categorize, and represent students' conceptions of mathematical concepts. It further indicates that teachers can use the descriptive categories of learners' voices as the foundation to develop students' more profound understanding of mathematics.

Author

• Manasseh Cudjoe, Wayne State University