students conceptions of mathematics

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QUESTIONNAIRE _________________________________________________________________________ ______ Name:_________________________________ Section:_________________ Date of Birth:___________________________ Age:____________________ Gender: Male_____ Female_____ Students Conceptions of Mathematics in Everyday Life I.Instructions: For each statement, select the choice that reflects your agreement or disagreement with the given statement. Select only one choice. Kindly check ( / ) the appropriate column that best describes your answer based on the scale below: 5 – Strongly Agree 4 – Agree 3 – Undecided 2 - Disagree 1 - Strongly Disagree Statements 5 4 3 2 1 Mathematics… 1 .is an accurate subject, where all questions have answers that are either correct and incorrect. 2. is a universal subject that is the same all over the world. 3. is a rational subject with no place of intuition. 4. is an abstract subject with little relation to the real world. 5. is a cold subject with no place for emotions. 6. is a cut and dried subject with no place of intuition. 7. context is fixed. We already know all the Mathematics that we need.

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Page 1: Students conceptions of mathematics

QUESTIONNAIRE_______________________________________________________________________________

Name:_________________________________ Section:_________________Date of Birth:___________________________ Age:____________________Gender: Male_____ Female_____

Students Conceptions of Mathematics in Everyday Life

I.Instructions: For each statement, select the choice that reflects your agreement or disagreement with the given statement. Select only one choice. Kindly check ( / ) the appropriate column that best describes your answer based on the scale below:

5 – Strongly Agree4 – Agree3 – Undecided2 - Disagree1 - Strongly Disagree

Statements 5 4 3 2 1Mathematics…1 .is an accurate subject, where all questions have answers that are either correct and incorrect.2. is a universal subject that is the same all over the world.3. is a rational subject with no place of intuition.4. is an abstract subject with little relation to the real world.5. is a cold subject with no place for emotions.6. is a cut and dried subject with no place of intuition.7. context is fixed. We already know all the Mathematics that we need.

II. Instructions: Select the statement(s) that best describes your views about the utility of Mathematics. You may select more than one statement.

I find Mathematics useful for…

_____ dealing with a variety of everyday _____ understanding public policies related life situations to budgets, health care system, etc.

_____ dealing with quantities and _____ artistic activities such as drawing and measurements designing, sewing and weaving, etc.

_____ developing intellectual skills such as _____ understanding other academic subjectsanalysis, critical thinking, etc.

_____ dealing with a variety of work _____ entertainment activities such as puzzlesrelated situations and games

Page 2: Students conceptions of mathematics

III. Instuctions: Arrange the mathematical subjects in order of importance. The subject that you think is most useful should be ranked as ( 1).

_____ Arithmetic _____ Calculus _____ Geometry

_____ Algebra _____ Statistics _____ Trigonometry

IV. Instructions: Arrange the following lessons on order of importance. The lesson that you think is most useful should be ranked as (1).

In Arithmetic In Algebra

_____ The Four Basic Operations _____ Algebraic Expressions_____ Ratio and Proportion _____ Word Problems_____ Reading and Writing Numbers _____ Variables and Symbols_____ Fractions _____ Radicals (e.g. Square Root)_____ Percentages and Applications _____ Formulas_____ Ordering and Comparing Numbers _____ Equations

In Geometry In Statistics

_____ Measurements and Estimation _____ Charts (Line, Pie,Bar, etc.)_____ Shapes _____ Measures of Average_____ Calculating length, area, etc. _____ Probability_____ Space Geometry _____ Displaying, Organizing and Interpreting_____ Theorems and Proofs data

_____ Standardized Scores (e.g. z- score)

V. Instructions: Select the type of skills that mathematics helped you develop. Then, select the specific skills. You may select more than one type or specific skill.

_____ Intellectual Skills such as _____ Communication Skills such as

_____ learning and understanding _____ language skills_____ thinking _____ communicating with numbers_____ problem solving _____ dealing with others in shopping markets_____ attention and concentration _____ communicating with nature_____ memory

Page 3: Students conceptions of mathematics

_____ Mathematical Skills such as _____ Practical Skills such as

_____ statistical skills such as reading _____ academic skills for learning other and interpreting charts subjects

_____ numerical skills such as calculating _____ professional business skills forand estimating accounting, commerce,…

_____ algebraic skills such as solving _____ professional scientific skills forequations engineering design, medication

_____ geometry skills such as drawing and administration,…Measuring _____ statistical skills for learner assessment

_____ arithmetic skills such as dealing with _____ everyday life skills for shopping,percentages personal banking,…

_____ technological skills for computed and calculator use,…

VI. Instructions: Select the statement that best describes how Mathematics helps you. Select only one statement.

I find Mathematics helpful in

_____ telling the time _____ understanding how the social security_____ finding out how much money is system works

left after shopping _____ taking courses to improve some_____ solving puzzles in magazines computer skills

or newspapers _____ reading tasks and duties schedule_____ dealing with difficult situations _____ finding new ways to improve our

that require analysis world_____ designing patterns for _____ describing distances between places

weaving

VII. Instructions: Select the most useful skill that Mathematics helps you develop. Select only one skill.

_____ learning and understanding _____ knowing time differences betweencountries

_____ communicating using numbers _____ solving equations

VIII. Instructions: Select the Mathematical subject that you use most. Select only one subject.

_____ Arithmetic _____ Geometry _____ Algebra _____ Statistics

IX. Instructions: Select the Mathematical topic that you think is most useful. You may select more than one topic.

_____ Using Charts _____ Solving Equations_____ Calculating Amounts _____ Estimating Measurements_____ Reading and Writing Numbers _____ Recognizing Basic Shapes_____ Working with Fractions _____ Working with Ratios

Page 4: Students conceptions of mathematics

_____ Calculating Area, Perimeter, etc. _____ Working with Averages_____ Working with Percentages _____ Working with Square Roots_____ Comparing and Ordering Numbers _____ Knowing Theorems and Proofs_____ Using Formulas to Calculate Quantities _____ Solving Word Problems_____ Using Probabilities

X. Instructions: Select the statement that best describes your view of how Mathematics Developed. Select only one statement.

_____ People created Mathematics to address _____ People discovered Mathematicstheir practical needs as they attempted to understand

the world them.

XI. Instructions: Select the statement that best describes your view of Mathematics and its applications. Select only one statement.

I think of Mathematics as_____ a group of numbers and rules for doing _____ a language of science used to

calculations describe the physical world_____ a school subject used in learning _____ a mental exercise that helps develop

other subjects and for future studies intellectual abilities_____ a subject used in everyday life and at _____ an activity that allows us to express

work our creativity_____ a symbolic language that expresses _____ a mental activity used to develop

relations between objects and quantities problem solving techniques

XII. Instructions: Select the mathematical topic that you use most. Select only one topic.

_____ numbers and calculation ______ shapes and measurement

_____ solving equations ______ averages and probabilities

XIII. Instructions: Select the most useful skill that Mathematics helps you develop. Select only one skill

_____ Communication. _____ Mathematical

_____ Intellectual _____ Practical

XIV. Instructions: Select the statement that best describes your view of Mathematics and its applications. Select only one statement.

I think Mathematics is a tool for

_____ explaining things such as rules of _____ studying other subjectsgravity _____ developing problem solving

_____ dealing with numbers techniques_____ dealing with day to day and _____ representing relations between

work related situations objects and quantities_____ developing our ability to think _____ enhancing innovations

Page 5: Students conceptions of mathematics

XV. Instructions: Select the most useful skill that Mathematics helps you develop. You may select more than one skill.

_____ reading and interpreting charts _____ thinking skills_____ dealing with others in markets _____ learning skills_____ communicating with nature _____ academic skills for learning other_____ measuring subjects_____ doing calculations _____ language skills_____ solving equations _____ business skills_____ solving problems _____ scientific skills_____ attention and concentration _____ calculator and computer skills_____ communicating through numbers _____ memory skills

_____ everyday life skills

XVI. Instructions: Select the statement that best describes your view on the usefulness of Mathematics. Select only one statement.

I find Mathematics useful for_____ dealing with day to day routines _____ understanding government policies_____ dealing with calculations and estimations _____ doing art activities such as drawing _____ developing intellectual skills and design_____ dealing with a variety of work related _____ academic and professional development

tasks _____ advancing science and technology_____ doing activities such as puzzles _____ communicating ideas related to numbers

and games and measurements

XVII. Instructions: Write a few lines in response to each of the following questions:

1.If you were to describe Mathematics, what would you say?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Do you find Mathematics useful? Why?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Can you think of lessons that you found useful in Mathematics? If so, what were those lessons about?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Did Mathematics help you develop any skills? If so, what are those skills?

Page 6: Students conceptions of mathematics

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Complete the following statement as in the example: (To me language is like a key. It opens the door of communication). To me Mathematics is like a____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Can you think of any profession where Mathematics is needed and used? In what ways?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Are there any views that you would like to express regarding the role of Mathematics in our everyday lives?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________