The Construction and evaluation of a test of understanding of mathematical concepts and principles basic to the teaching of Primary School Mathehatics

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Date
1980-03
Authors
Sew Hock, Tan
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Abstract
This study was an attempt to construct and evaluate an instrument for measuring primary school teacher trainees' understanding of mathematical concepts and principles basic to the teaching of primary school mathematics. The type of instrument constructed was an objectively scored multiple•choice test. Content of the test was determined by an analysis of the official syllabus of primary school mathematics and a series of six guide-books on teaching of primary school mathematics. The former was used to determine the broad topics of primary school mathematics and the latter the concept~ and principles to be tested in each broad topic. The first form of the test consisted of seventy items with forty-one items on mathematical concepts and twenty-nine on mathematical principles. A pilot test was conducted with the first form of the test. The pilot test results were analysed to provide information for the selection, revision and refinement of test items to be included in the final form of the test, The final form of the test, A Test of Understanding of Mathematical Concepts and Principles Basic to the Teaching of Primary School Mathematics - FORM B (TUMCP .. FORM B), consisted of forty-five items with twenty-six items on mathematical concepts and nineteen items on mathematical principles. The TUMCP - FORM B was administered to two hundred and two primary school teacher trainees in Maktab Peguruan Sungai Patani, Kedah. An item analysis, using the procedures as suggested by Nuttall and Skurnik, performed on the test results yielded statistics on the' facility and discrimination level of each item. The reliability and the standard error of measurement of the test were also determined. The TU!MCP - FORM B was evaluated by analysing the facility and discrimination indices of the test items, its reliability and validity. The mean facility level of the test items was .46. Thirty-eight items had facility indices within the range of .25 to .74. Forty-one items had discrimination indices of .21 and above. Out of the forty-five items, forty-one of them met the criteria of acceptable items set by Nuttall and Skurnik. The reliability coefficient of the ,TUMCP - FORM B, estimated by the use of the Kuder-Richnrdson Formula 20 was .803. The standard error of measurement was 2.99 raw score points. Validity of the test was that of content validity. It was based on a careful and detailed analysis of the official syllabus for primary school mathematics and a series of six guide-books on the teaching of primary school mathematics, and the judgement of a panel of experienced people involved in the training and supervision of primary school mathematics teachers. The results of this study indicate that it is feasible to use multiple-choice test as a means of measuring understanding of mathematical concepts and principles of primary school teacher trainees. The TUMCP - PORN B seems to be a potentially useful instrument for diagnostic and evaluative. ourposes as far as primary school teacher trainees' understanding of mathematical concepts and principles is concerned.
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Mathematical concepts and principles basic , Primary School Mathehatics
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