Mathematics Page Format: Student Experience with High-and Low-Density Layouts

Graduation Date

Spring 2004

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Document Form

Print

Degree Name

Master of Science

Program Name

Education

Program Director

Madalienne F. Peters, EdD

Abstract

In this study, two fourth-grade classes were given the choice between two differing math page layouts. One choice was characterized by thirty problems on the page, hereafter termed "high-density" (see Appendix A). The other choice included the same problems spread out over five "low-density" (see Appendix B) pages. In two more classrooms the children were not given a choice about which format they would use to complete the math assignment. Completion times, accuracy of answers, and correlations with CAT 6 scaled scores from the previous year were examined. The participants of this study were equally likely to choose the "high-density” format instrument as to choose "low-density" format instrument. Neither participant choice nor which of the two instruments was completed, significantly effected participants' accuracy and completion times. The average of the CAT 6 scores of participants who chose the "low—density" instrument was higher than the average of the CAT 6 scores of participants who chose the "high-density" instrument. The correlations were slightly higher between the completion times, accuracy, and CAT 6 scores on the work of participants using the "low-density" instrument.

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