This conceptual paper aims to (1) highlight on the harmful arising from misconceptions on students' performance and achievement in algebra, (2) classifying these conceptual errors, and (3) highlighting on some past studies in this field. The authors explained the importance of algebra, and its association closely with other mathematics branches and other related subjects such as physics and economics. The authors presented the importance of revealing conceptual errors in algebra. Based on literature, the authors classified algebraic misconceptions into four categorized: algebraic expressions, linear equations, polynomials, exponents and radical expressions, and finally functions and graphs. Based on literature, a set of common conceptual errors in algebra were presented. It was emphasized that teachers should be aware of these errors and research should be expand in this field to find effective instructional strategies to address these felled algebraic misconceptions.
Akhtar, Z., & Steinle, V. (2013). Probing Students’ Numerical Misconceptions in School Algebra. Proceeding of the 36th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Educational Research Group of Australian, pp. 36-43.
A’yun, Q., & Lukito, A. (2018). Misconceptions of Senior High School Students’ in Radicals. Scientific Journal of Mathematics Education. 7(2), Tahun 2018.
Bardini, C., Vincent, J., Pierce, R., & King, D. (2014). Undergraduate Mathematics Students’ Pronumeral Misconceptions. Proceeding of the 37th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Educational Research Group of Australia, pp. 87-94.
Booth, J. L., McGinn, K. M., Barbieri, C., & Young, L. K. (2017). Misconceptions and learning algebra. In And the rest is just algebra (pp. 63-78). Springer, Cham.
Bush, S. B. (2011). Analyzing Common Algebra-Related Misconceptions and Errors of Middle School Students. Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 187.
Campbell, A. (2009). Remediation of first-year mathematics students' algebra difficulties. Doctoral dissertation.
Cans?z, Kucuk, B., & Isleyen, T. (2011). Identifying the secondary school students’ misconceptions about functions. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 15 (2011), 3837–3842.
Chow, T. C. F., & Treagust, D. F. (2013). An Intervention Study Using Cognitive Conflict to Foster Conceptual Change. Journal of Science and Mathematics Education in Southeast Asia. 36(1), 44-64.
Dodzo, W. (2016). Secondary School Studies Errors and Misconceptions in Algebra with Specific Reference to A School in Mashonaland. Unpublished master thesis, Faculty of science Education, Bindura University of science Education, Zimbabwe.
Holmes, V. L., Miedema, C., Nieuwkoop, L., & Haugen, N. (2013). Data-Driven Intervention: Correcting Mathematics Students’ Misconceptions, not Mistakes. The Mathematics Educator Journal, 23(1). 24-44.
Irwati, C. M. Z., & Ali, R. M. (2018). Cognitive Conflict Strategy to Minimize Students’ Misconceptions on the Topic of Addition of Algebraic Expression. The 6th South East Asia Design Research International Conference. Conf. Series 1088 (2018) 012084.
Karadeniz, M. H., Kaya, T. B., & Bozkus, F. (2017). Explanations of prospective middle school mathematics teachers for potential misconceptions on the concept of symmetry. International electronic journal of elementary education, 10(1).
Li, X. (2006). Cognitive Analysis of Student’ Errors and Misconceptions in Variables, Equations, and Functions. Doctoral Thesis, Texas A&M University.
Luka, M. T. (2013). Misconceptions and Errors in Algebra at Grade 11 Level: The Case of Two Selected Secondary Schools in Petauke District. Doctoral Thesis, The University of Zambia Lusaka.
Mulungye M. M., O‘Connor M., & Ndethiu S. (2016). Sources of Student Errors and Misconceptions in Algebra and Effectiveness of Classroom Practice Remediation in Machakos County- Kenya. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(10), pp. 31-33.
Ocal, M. (2017). Asymptote Misconception on Graphing Functions: Does Graphing Software Resolve It? Malaysian Online Journal of Educational Technology, 5(1).
Ojose, B. (2015). Students’ Misconceptions in Mathematics: Analysis of Remedies and What Research Says. Ohio Journal of School Mathematics, Fall, Vol. 72.
Steinle, V., Gvozdenko, E., Price, B., Stacey, K. & Pierce, R. (2009). Investigating Students’ Numerical Misconceptions in Algebra. Proceedings of the 32nd annual conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, Vol. 2. Palmerston North, NZ: MERGA.
Toka, Y., & Askar, P. (2002). The Effect of Cognitive Conflict and Conceptual Change Text on Students’ Achievement Related to First Degree Equations with One Unknown. Hacettepe University, Faculty of Education Archive, 23 (23), 211-217.
In-Text Citation: (AL-Rababaha et al., 2020)
To Cite this Article: AL-Rababaha, Y., Yew, W. T., & Meng, C. C. (2020). Misconceptions in School Algebra. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 10(5), 803–812.
Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s)
Published by Human Resource Management Academic Research Society (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode