Impact of Mathematics Content Course Sequence on CBASE and Praxis II Scores of Elementary Teacher Candidates
Date
2014Metadata
[+] Show full item recordAbstract
The focus of this study was to investigate the impact of the number of developmental
mathematics courses and the level of algebraic integration of general education mathematics
courses have on elementary teacher candidates’ performance on the CBASE and Elementary
Praxis II: Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment. Course work and standardized achievement
test performance of 104 elementary teacher candidates at a midsize university located in the
state of Missouri from 2001 to 2011 were analyzed. The files of 104 teacher candidates had
the mathematics scores for the CBASE and the overall scores for the Elementary Praxis II; 65
of the files contained the mathematics score for the Elementary Praxis II.
Nonequivalent groups were formed by using the number of developmental mathematics
courses completed, then using the level of algebraic integration in the general education
mathematics course completed and, lastly, using the two combined. Developmental
mathematics course work had categories of: (1) None, (2) Intermediate Algebra Only and (3)
Introductory/Intermediate Algebra Sequence. General education mathematics course work
had categories of: (1) Course Emphasized Algebra and (2) Course De-emphasized Algebra.
A two-way MANOVA was used to investigate the interaction of the factors of
developmental mathematics course work and general education mathematics course work on
the dependent variables of mathematics scores on CBASE and overall scores on Elementary
Praxis II. Furthermore, two separate follow-up analyses using ANOVA on each of the
dependent variables were performed. In addition, a two-way ANOVA was performed to
investigate the interaction of the two factors on the dependent variable of mathematics score
on Elementary Praxis II.
The results of the present study found no significant differences in the mathematics scores
on CBASE, the overall score of the Elementary Praxis II or the mathematics score of the
Elementary Praxis II among the groups formed using the developmental and general
education mathematics courses completed. As a result, the teacher candidates who entered
college with deficiencies in mathematics or completed a general education mathematics
course that de-emphasized algebra proved to not be at a disadvantage for passing the tests
needed for obtaining teaching credentials in Missouri based on the available data
information.
Table of Contents
Introduction -- Review of the related literature -- Research design and methodology -- Results -- Discussion.
Degree
Ph.D.