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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Keywords
Mathematical concepts and principles basic , Primary School Mathehatics