How Do Students Acquire an Understanding of Logarithmic Concepts?

How Do Students Acquire an Understanding of Logarithmic Concepts?

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Mulqueeny, Ellen S.
Language:English
Published: Kent State University / OhioLINK 2012
Subjects:
Mathematics Education
logarithms
APOS Theory
Online Access:http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1340912890
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spelling ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-kent13409128902021-08-03T05:38:02Z How Do Students Acquire an Understanding of Logarithmic Concepts? Mulqueeny, Ellen S. Mathematics Education logarithms APOS Theory <p>The use of logarithms, an important tool for calculus and beyond, has been reduced to symbol manipulation without understanding in most entry-level college algebra courses. The primary aim of this research, therefore, was to investigate college students’ understanding of logarithmic concepts through the use of a series of instructional tasks designed to observe what students do as they construct meaning. APOS Theory was used as a framework for analysis of growth. </p><p>APOS Theory is a useful theoretical framework for studying and explaining conceptual development. Closely linked to Piaget’s notions of reflective abstraction, it begins with the hypothesis that mathematical activity develops as students perform actions that become interiorized to form a process understanding of the concept, which eventually leads students to a heightened awareness or object understanding of the concept. Prior to any investigation, the researcher must provide an analysis of the concept development in terms of the essential components of this theory: actions, process, objects, and schemas. This is referred to as the genetic decomposition. The results of this study suggest a framework that a learner may use to construct meaning for logarithmic concepts. Using tasks aligned with the initial genetic decomposition, the researcher made revisions to the proposed genetic decomposition in the process of analyzing the data. The results indicated that historical accounts of the development of this concept might be useful to promote insightful learning. Based on this new set of data, iterations should continue to produce a better understanding of the student’s constructions.¿¿¿¿¿¿¿</p> 2012-08-09 English text Kent State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1340912890 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1340912890 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.
collection NDLTD
language English
sources NDLTD
topic Mathematics Education
logarithms
APOS Theory
spellingShingle Mathematics Education
logarithms
APOS Theory
Mulqueeny, Ellen S.
How Do Students Acquire an Understanding of Logarithmic Concepts?
author Mulqueeny, Ellen S.
author_facet Mulqueeny, Ellen S.
author_sort Mulqueeny, Ellen S.
title How Do Students Acquire an Understanding of Logarithmic Concepts?
title_short How Do Students Acquire an Understanding of Logarithmic Concepts?
title_full How Do Students Acquire an Understanding of Logarithmic Concepts?
title_fullStr How Do Students Acquire an Understanding of Logarithmic Concepts?
title_full_unstemmed How Do Students Acquire an Understanding of Logarithmic Concepts?
title_sort how do students acquire an understanding of logarithmic concepts?
publisher Kent State University / OhioLINK
publishDate 2012
url http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1340912890
work_keys_str_mv AT mulqueenyellens howdostudentsacquireanunderstandingoflogarithmicconcepts
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