From April 2000 to March 2001
Project Leader(s): Ian Thompson
Staff: Jill Clark
Contact: Ian Thompson
Sponsors: Nuffield Foundation
Objectives
The major objective of this project was to collect valid and reliable data on children’s understanding of place value and to provide a detailed analysis of these data. The project attempted to answer the question: what is the nature of the relationship between young children’s understanding of the concept of place value and their ability to perform successfully two-digit additions and subtractions in their head? These related questions were derived from this specific question:
1.Does this relationship differ with respect to the ability of the children?
2.To what extent is this relationship age-related?
3.To what extent is this relationship gender-related?
Research Methodology and Justification
The investigation took the form of a series of one-to-one interviews with a stratified sample of 144 children in four consecutive year groups selected from the range Year 1 to Year 6 in six primary schools. In the interviews the children were asked to complete several practical and/or written graded questions on place value commensurate with their age and ability. They were also asked to calculate mentally several appropriate two-digit additions and subtractions. After each calculation they were invited to describe the strategy that they used to generate their solution. Children’s level of success in both parts of the interview were compared and analysed in some detail.
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Jill Clark
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