Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Curriculum Connectivity In Montclair State University’S Undergraduate Mathematics Program, Ana G. Da Silva Jesus

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

According to Piaget’s cognitive development theory and the constructivism learning theory of education, real learning occurs when students establish long term connections between disciplines by either adapting or redefining previously acquired knowledge. These ideologies have important teaching and learning implications that directly influence curriculum development and the design of a course of study. This thesis explores the interconnectedness of the subjects required for the successful completion of an undergraduate math program at Montclair State University. More specifically, it models students’ unique connections through a learning network and investigates the correlation between the interconnectivity of subjects and students’ overall performance. Results …

Finding The Common Denominator: Understanding The Shared Experiences Of Female Math Majors, Abigail R. Rosenbaum

Honors Theses

Despite efforts to increase gender diversity in STEM fields, women remain underrepresented in mathematics, especially in advanced academic and research positions. This study aimed to explore the experiences of female math majors as they attempt to navigate this male-dominated space. Through qualitative interviews with seven female math majors, two female math professors, and a focus group with education majors at Woodbridge College, small liberal arts college in the United States, several common themes were identified that define the experiences of female math majors. The findings suggest that math is held at an elevated status in society and that there is …

On Class Imbalanced Learning:Design Of Non-Parametricclassifiers, Performance Indices, And Deep Oversampling Strategies., Sankha Mullick Dr.

Doctoral Theses

The relevance of classification is almost endless in the everyday application of machine learning. However, the performance of a classifier is only limited to the fulfillment of the inherent assumptions it makes about the training examples. For example, to facilitate unbiased learning a classifier is expected to be trained with an equal number of labeled data instances from all of the classes. However, in a large number of practical applications such as anomaly detection, semantic segmentation, disease prediction, etc. it may not be possible to gather an equal number of diverse training points for all the classes. This results in …

Some Nonparametric Hybrid Predictive Models : Asymptotic Properties And Applications., Tanujit Chakraborty Dr.

Doctoral Theses

Prediction problems like classification, regression, and time series forecasting have always attracted both the statisticians and computer scientists worldwide to take up the challenges of data science and implementation of complicated models using modern computing facilities. But most traditional statistical and machine learning models assume the available data to be well-behaved in terms of the presence of a full set of essential features, equal size of classes, and stationary data structures in all data instances, etc. Practical data sets from the domain of business analytics, process and quality control, software reliability, and macroeconomics, to name a few, suffer from various …

The Marshmallow Lab: A Project-Based Approach To Understanding Functional Responses, Melissa Pulley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This paper presents a three-part lesson plan to improve student’s understanding of Holling’s type II functional response model. This model describes the interaction between a predator and how much it is able to consume given a constant number of prey. According to the model, while increased availability of prey allows predators to consume portionately more prey for low values, after some number of prey, predators will only be able to capture a limited number of prey even as the prey continues to increase. This phenomenon is known as saturation. Holling first develop this important ecological theory through his “disc experiment” …

A Pedagogic Analysis Of Linear Algebra Courses, Andrew Taylor

Mathematics & Statistics ETDs

This project is concerned with investigating the question, "Do our applied linear algebra courses (at the University of New Mexico) adequately prepare STEM students for future work in their respective fields?" In order to explore this, surveys were issued to three groups (sections) of students (among two different instructors) at the conclusion of their applied linear algebra course, as well as STEM professors/instructors from a variety of STEM fields. Students were surveyed regarding their perceived mastery of given topics/ideas from the course and professors/instructors were surveyed about the level of mastery they felt was necessary (referred to as ``desired mastery") …

Gender Difference In Indian Consumption Expenditure., Mannu Dwivedi Dr.

Doctoral Theses

The goal of any development policy is to increase the living standard of the people in the society. In any developing country, the efficiency of such policy depends on how families reallocate the resources among themselves. If the distribution is even within the family then only it can be said that the policy was fruitful. Therefore, a family is an important part of any policy and the allocation within the family should be just. But, the distribution of the resources among the family members are not always equal. Inequality always exists! Discrimination against girls or women persists in approximately all …

A First-Year Teacher’S Implementation Of Short-Cycle Formative Assessment Through The Use Of A Classroom Response System And Flexible Grouping, Adrienne Irving Dumas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As teachers we are tasked with ensuring that our students are equipped with the skills necessary to not only perform with proficiency on local state and national assessments but also to provide our students with opportunities to develop confidence and competence as learners of mathematics through meaningful challenging and worthwhile activities. As such many teachers have turned to technology and cooperative groups as staples in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to understand how one first-year teacher implemented what she was taught in her undergraduate coursework in teaching two specific units of instruction in two sections of high …

Essays On Applied Welfare Economics., Sutirtha Bandyopadhyay Dr.

Doctoral Theses

The measurement of welfare forms the foundation of public policy analysis. It is an area where empirical investigations clearly benefits from theoretical insight and where theoretical concepts are brought alive and appropriately focused by the discipline of empirical relevance and policy design. While welfare measurement at the micro level is of independent interest, of greater concern is the well-being of groups of households/individuals.A widely discussed issue in the literature of welfare economics is ‘whose welfare to measure’ when we are interested to measure the well-being of a group of individuals. The most common approach is to assume the existence of …

Launch-Explore-Summarize In High School Calculus, Nate Mattis

Honors Theses

Current research on high school calculus instruction indicates that students often possess a procedural knowledge of differentiation and integration as opposed to a conceptual knowledge (Orton, 1983; Ferrini-Mundy & Graham, 1994). Given the prominence of traditional lecture and textbook-based calculus classes in the United States, students are not always given the opportunity to expand their conceptual knowledge of essential calculus concepts. This project introduces calculus students to a more active and communal method of teaching: Launch-Explore-Summarize (LES) (CMP, n.d.). This methodology places students at the center of their learning and emphasizes inquiry-based thinking during a class. Specifically, two LES lessons …

Integrating Non-Euclidean Geometry Into High School, John Buda

Honors Thesis

The purpose of this project is to provide the framework for integrating the study of non-Euclidean geometry into a high school math class in such a way that both aligns with the Common Core State Standards and makes use of research-based practices to enhance the learning of traditional geometry. Traditionally, Euclidean geometry has been the only strand of geometry taught in high schools, even though mathematicians have developed several other strands. The non-Euclidean geometry that I focus on in this project is what is known as taxicab geometry. With the Common Core Standards for Math Practice pushing students to “model …

Investigating The Mathematical Dispositions And Self-Efficacy For Teaching Mathematics Of Preservice Teachers, Jasmine M. Cruz

Theses and Dissertations

The study of the individual's beliefs and the role and influence they have on the individual's actions and behaviors, have long been examined and investigated by educators and psychologists. Moreover, researchers have overwhelmingly claimed and demonstrated that the beliefs held by teachers significantly influences their behavior and educational practices in the classroom. This thesis study investigates the mathematical disposition and self-efficacy for teaching mathematics of preservice teachers. The study's primary goals are to discover if there is a relationship or association between a teacher's mathematical disposition(MD) and his/her self-efficacy for teaching mathematics (SEFTM), and if there are significant differences between …

A Study Of Perceptions Of Math Mindset, Math Anxiety, And View Of Math By Young Adults, Tami L. Hocker

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

This study’s purpose was to determine whether instruction in growth math mindset led to change in perceptions of 18-22-year-old at-risk students in math mindset, math anxiety, and view of math. The experimental curriculum was created by the researcher with the guidance of experts in mathematics and education and focused on the impact of brain growth and learning supported by positive math mindset. Young adult public charter high school at-risk students were surveyed before and after completion of the experimental intervention to measure their perceptions in the domains of Math Mindset, Math Anxiety, and View of Math. The results revealed significant …

Teachers' Perceptions Of Manipulatives During Middle School Math Instruction, Angela L. Vizzi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In a Colorado school district, school personnel and parents were concerned that middle school math proficiency levels were low for 2011-2014 and math teachers were not using manipulatives in their classes to increase math performance. The district's math coordinator did not foresee providing specific professional development (PD) for math manipulative use to address these concerns. Without this PD, math teachers may be ill-quipped to teach math concepts when using manipulatives, which, in turn, could lead to further poor math performance. The purpose of this qualitative bounded collective case study was to explore middle school teachers' perceptions of PD and perceived …

A Study On Hispanic College Students' Mathematics Anxiety, Study Habits, And Academic Performances On Mathematics, Luis M. Fernandez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Mathematics anxiety has been described as a feeling of apprehension, fear, tension, and discomfort when confronted with mathematics. Mathematics anxiety has also been shown to interfere with mathematics performance; therefore, for our research we investigated what portions of individuals seem to suffer higher levels of mathematics anxiety and to what extent they are affected by it. We also investigated the study habits of the students and how these affect their mathematics anxiety levels and overall mathematics performance. Our data was obtained from Hispanic undergraduate students (n=405) who took Elementary Algebra (Math 1300), Intermediate Algebra (Math 1334), College Algebra (Math 1340) …

Teaching Algebra: A Comparison Of Scottish And American Perspectives, Brittany Munro

Undergraduate Honors Theses

A variety of factors influence what teaching strategies an educator uses. I analyze survey responses from algebra teachers in Scotland and Appalachia America to discover how a teacher's perception of these factors, particularly their view of mathematics itself, determines the pedagogical strategies employed in the classroom.

Fostoria Intermediate Elementary School Family Math Night, Chelsea Nye

Honors Projects

This is a Family Math Night that was planned and held at Fostoria Intermediate Elementary School in Fostoria, Ohio. It includes the Research Questions, Literature Review, Proposed Activity, Methodology, and Expected Results as well as the Annotated Bibliography and Timeline for Completion from my research and planning. Following the Proposal are 20 mathematical activity or game lesson plans and direction sheets that were planned for the Family Math Night. There are 5 different mathematical activities or games for each grade level 3-6, each meeting a different domain in the Common Core State Standards. At the end there is two general …

Calculator Usage In Secondary Level Classrooms: The Ongoing Debate, Nicole Plummer

Honors College Theses

With technology becoming more prevalent every day, it is imperative that students gain enough experience with different technological tools in order to be successful in the “real-world”. This thesis will discuss the debate and overall support for an increased usage of calculators as tools in the secondary level classroom. When the idea of calculators in the classroom first came to life, many educators were very apprehensive and quite hesitant of this change. Unfortunately, more than 40 years later, there is still hesitation for their usage; and rightfully so. While there are plenty of advantages of calculator use in the classroom, …

Exploring The Effects Of Conversational Repair As A Scaffolding Strategy To Promote Mathematics Explanations Of Students With Learning Disabilities, Jia Liu

Open Access Dissertations

Conversational repair often occurs in conversations when people attempt to address communicative breakdowns or inaccuracy by way of repeating what have been said or putting them in another way. The review of literature on conversational repair revealed that as an important concept in pragmatic aspect of language, it is an effective strategy to improve communication of different populations with disabilities. However, it is rarely studied in the domain of mathematics and with the population with learning disabilities/difficulties (LD). In current reform-based, discourse-oriented mathematics classrooms, students with LD encounter difficulties articulating or explaining well their reasoning processes due to the mathematical …

Comparing The Impact Of Traditional And Modeling College Algebra Courses On Student Performance In Survey Of Calculus, Jerry West

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Students in higher education deserve opportunities to succeed and learning environments which maximize success. Mathematics courses can create a barrier for success for some students. College algebra is a course that serves as a gateway to required courses in many bachelor's degree programs. The content in college algebra should serve to maximize students' potential in utilizing mathematics and gaining skills required in subsequent math-based courses when necessary. The Committee for Undergraduate Programs in Mathematics has gone through extensive work to help mathematics departments reform their college algebra courses in order to help students gain interest in the utilization of mathematics …

Some Results On Cryptanalysis Of Rsa And Factorization., Santanu Sarkar Dr.

Doctoral Theses

In this thesis, we propose some new results in Cryptanalysis of RSA and related Factorization problems. Till date, the best known algorithm to solve the Integer Factorization problem is the Number Field Sieve, which has a runtime greater than exp(log1/3 N) for factoring an integer N. However, if one obtains certain information about the RSA parameters, there are algorithms which can factor the RSA modulus N = pq quite efficiently. The intention of this thesis is to identify such weaknesses of the RSA cryptosystem and its variants. Further we study results related to factorization.In Africacrypt 2008, Nitaj presented a class …

Income Inequality And Spatial Distribution : Firm Location, Product Quality And Welfare Of Poor., Namrata Gulati Dr.

Doctoral Theses

The key idea explored in this thesis is the following: though being poor in itself is a huge disadvantage, the situation might be influenced considerably by the type of neighbourhood the poor lives in as private establishments like educational institutions, health care facilities or credit institutions take both the location and income mix of people into account while making strategic decisions like whether to enter into the neighbourhood at all, and, upon entry, what price and quality to choose for their products and services. Is staying with the rich a virtue for the poor or a source of resentment? Are …

Public Policy, Long Run Growth And Economic Transition From Agriculture To Industrial Mass Production., Rudrani Bhattacharya Dr.

Doctoral Theses

It has been recognized that the heart of the development process lies on the transformation of an economy from traditional activities in agriculture to industrial activities. As emphasized by Lewis (1954), the movement of labor from primary sector to industry is conducive to the rise of economy’s savings and investment rate and thus fostering economic growth. The core of this paradigm is the historically observed rapid growth in today’s developed countries associated with expansion of industrial activities.It is well-documented by now that at least over a few centuries leading up to 1800 AD there was little change in the world …

Wealth Inequality And Economic Performances., Sahana Roy Chowdhury Dr.

Doctoral Theses

Ever since the inception of Development Economics as a separate discipline inequality has been a major area of extensive study. Economists and researchers have deliberated both on the causes and the effects of inequality in a wide range of treatise, books and essays. So far, in this regard, two fundamental approaches came across viz., the Classical approach and the Credit Market Imperfection approach. The Classical approach was originated by Smith (1937) and was further interpreted and developed by Keynes (1920), Lewis (1954), Kaldor (1957), and Bourguignon (1981). According to this approach, savings rate is an increasing function of wealth and …

Gender Bias In Education In West Bengal., Chayanika Mitra Dr.

Doctoral Theses

There exists a vast literature with evidences of gender discrimination against females in allocation of goods and services at regional/national level in India. Evidence of gender bias on Indian data include, among many others, studies by Subramanian and Deaton (1991), Azam and Kingdon (2013), Kingdon (2005), Drèze and Kingdon (2001), Zimmerman (2012) and Lancaster, Maitra, and Ray (2008). India has a history of preference for sons over daughters for cultural and economic reasons. This is manifested through high birth sex ratios, which is possibly a result of female foeticide. The child sex ratio is within the normal natural range in …

The Influence Of Inclusion On Langauge Arts Literacy And Math Achievement On Non-Disabled Middle School Students, Faye Brady

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Human Capital And Economic Growth: Theory And Policy., Bidisha Chakraborty Dr.

Doctoral Theses

Growth theory is one of the most important branches of macroeconomics. Growth theory helps us to understand the intertemporal behaviour of a dynamic economy and to understand the properties of the long-run rate of economic growth. It identifies the factors causing the deviation of the actual rate of growth from the socially efficient rate of growth and analyses the effectiveness of various policies in removing this gap. It analyses the condition of stability of the long-run equilibrium and also attempts to establish links between the long run equilibrium and the persistence of underdevelopment.With the emergence of the ‘new’ growth theory, …

Empirical Development Of An Instructional Product And Its Impact On Mastery Of Geometry Concepts, Donaldson Williams

Dissertations

Problem

Relatively poor levels of mathematical thinking among American school children have been identified as a major issue over the past half century. Many efforts have been made to increase the mathematics performance of children in schools. Additionally, out-of-school-time programs have attempted to address this issue as well. Holistic development is one of the distinguishing features of Seventh-day Adventist instructional programs. Yet, as of 2007, the Pathfinder program, an informal educational program operated by the world-wide Seventh-day Adventist church, had no instructional product designed to foster participants’ cognitive development in mathematics. This study focused on the empirical development of an …

The Process Of Tracking In Mathematics In Box Elder School District, Megan Haramoto Bushnell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Educational policymakers have used tracking to instruct students in a variety of subjects, including mathematics. Tracking, which has also been called ability grouping, is a process by which students in the same grade are placed into different classes based on academic ability. Few educators and sociologists have looked at the process by which students are placed in different mathematics tracks. The research design of this study focused on accumulating, evaluating, and reporting the understanding and observations of 12 teachers and 4 counselors as they discussed their knowledge and involvement in the mathematics placement procedures from the intermediate and middle school …

Gender Differences In Reading And Math Scores On The Pennsylvania System Of School Assessment Grade Five And Grade Eight Tests, Steven J. Rush

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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