A study of the effectiveness of elementary algebra in preparation for intermediate algebra
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the Elementary Algebra course (DSM 0080) in preparing students for the Intermediate Algebra course (DSM 0085) at Middle Tennessee State University. The population sampled was the Fall 1995 through Spring 1998 enrollment in DSM 0085, excluding transfer students and repeating students. The comparative groups were those students who had completed DSM 0080 prior to enrollment in DSM 0085 and those students who had tested directly into DSM 0085. A simple random sample of 100 subjects was selected from each group. The hypotheses of the study of these two groups were that no significant differences would exist in the DSM 0085 mean pretest scores and in the DSM 0085 mean posttest scores. A 2-sample t-test was used to test each of the hypotheses with an alpha level of .05. There was no significant difference in the mean pretest scores with a p-value of .0689. However, the t-test showed a statistically significant difference in the mean posttest scores with a p-value of .0001.
Subject Area
Mathematics education|Higher education
Recommended Citation
Nancy Johnson Brien,
"A study of the effectiveness of elementary algebra in preparation for intermediate algebra"
(1998).
ETD Collection for Tennessee State University.
Paper AAI9943843.
https://digitalscholarship.tnstate.edu/dissertations/AAI9943843