National and international large-scale assessments of mathematics show that, in most nations, males achieve better results than females and Italy is one of the countries with a greater gap. Many research studies in mathematics education have analysed this issue, using both quantitative and qualitative methods to understand the sources and characteristics of this gap. This study focuses on a specific Grade 10 task that requires algebraic manipulations of powers with the same base. Item-level analysis enables the study of gender differences on specific content, before using the lenses of mathematics education theories to interpret macro-phenomena emergeing from standardized assessment results. The quantitative analysis, carried out using the Rasch statistical model, highlights a gender gap in favour of males in this task and, furthermore, a variance in choices of incorrect options between males and females; the interviews conducted provide a key to understanding this phenomenon in terms of didactic contract.
(2020). The Properties of Powers: Didactic Contract and Gender Gap [journal article - articolo]. In INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICAL EDUCATION. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10446/166905
Titolo: | The Properties of Powers: Didactic Contract and Gender Gap |
Tipologia specifica: | articolo |
Tutti gli autori: | Ferretti, Federica; Giberti, Chiara |
Data di pubblicazione: | 2020-10-19 |
Abstract (eng): | National and international large-scale assessments of mathematics show that, in most nations, males achieve better results than females and Italy is one of the countries with a greater gap. Many research studies in mathematics education have analysed this issue, using both quantitative and qualitative methods to understand the sources and characteristics of this gap. This study focuses on a specific Grade 10 task that requires algebraic manipulations of powers with the same base. Item-level analysis enables the study of gender differences on specific content, before using the lenses of mathematics education theories to interpret macro-phenomena emergeing from standardized assessment results. The quantitative analysis, carried out using the Rasch statistical model, highlights a gender gap in favour of males in this task and, furthermore, a variance in choices of incorrect options between males and females; the interviews conducted provide a key to understanding this phenomenon in terms of didactic contract. |
Rivista: | |
Nelle collezioni: | 1.1.01 Articoli/Saggi in rivista - Journal Articles/Essays |
File allegato/i alla scheda:
File | Descrizione | Tipologia | Licenza | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ferretti-Giberti2020_Article_ThePropertiesOfPowersDidacticC.pdf | publisher's version - versione editoriale | ![]() | Open AccessVisualizza/Apri |