Conceptions of functions among first degree and diploma students / Siti Aishah Sheikh Abdullah

Sheikh Abdullah, Siti Aishah (2007) Conceptions of functions among first degree and diploma students / Siti Aishah Sheikh Abdullah. Social and Management Research Journal (SMRJ), 4 (1). pp. 67-76. ISSN 1675-7017

Abstract

The concept of functions is one of the most important topics in mathematics
learning. However many studies have indicated various difficulties students
exhibited in learning the concept of functions. Tall & Vinner used the term
concept images to describe how students think about concepts. A person S
concept image can differ greatly from the formal mathematical definitions of
the concept. This study explores an aspect of understanding the concept of
functions related to this theme. One hundred and ninety university students
from two different universities and with a different academic background
participated in the study. The first group of students were diploma students in
their second semester of engineering programme. The second group were first
year students enroll in science based degree in another higher institutions.
Data were gathered from questionnaires which asked students to identify
functions in graphic and algebraic forms. They were also requested to give
reasons for their choices. A large number of students indicated a strong
tendency to observe function only as a formula between x and y. Their
justification for rejecting or accepting representations of functions showed a
rather rigid and limited understanding of the concept. Many were unable to
give clear reasoning explaining their choices according to the formal definition
from their previous learning.

Metadata

Item Type: Article
Creators:
Creators
Email / ID Num.
Sheikh Abdullah, Siti Aishah
siti_aisha2@yahoo.com.my
Subjects: L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > Teaching (Principles and practice) > Teaching aids and devices
L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > Higher Education > Institutions of higher education
L Education > LG Individual institutions > Asia > Malaysia
Divisions:
Journal or Publication Title: Social and Management Research Journal (SMRJ)
UiTM Journal Collections: UiTM Journal > Social and Management Research Journal (SMRJ)
ISSN: 1675-7017
Volume: 4
Number: 1
Page Range: pp. 67-76
Keywords: Concept of functions, Diploma Students, mathematics learning, higher institutions
Date: 2007
URI: https://ir.uitm.edu.my/id/eprint/13026
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ID Number

13026

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