Poster #74 - The Effect of Modifying the Language of Mathematics Story Problems on Problem-Solving Measures

• In Event: 77.059 - MTCC Tuesday Poster Session 18
  In Poster Session: 77.059-10 - Mathematics Education Research Poster Session

Abstract

Mathematics word problem solving is directly influenced by students’ language proficiency, including non-mathematical language. However, research on the effect of language factors on mathematical word problem solving is largely descriptive or correlational. In the present study, we manipulate six different language features of mathematics word problems – number of sentences, pronouns, word concreteness, word hypernymy, consistency of sentences, and problem topic – and examine how systematically varying readability demands impacts student performance. We examine both accuracy and response time measures, using an assignment for learning algebra in the ASSISTments online problem-solving environment. We find little evidence that individual language factors have a considerable effect on mathematics word problem solving for a general population of students.

Authors

• Virginia E. Clinton, University of North Dakota

• Candace A. Walkington, Southern Methodist University

• Anthony Sparks, Southern Methodist University