Reading comprehension as a prerequisite for successful strategy of word problems solving in mathematics

Reading comprehension as a prerequisite for successful strategy of word problems solving in mathematics DISSERTATION Mgr. Alena Sigmundová ABSTRACT The dissertation describes the results of an interdisciplinary research study examining the linguistic aspects of word problems in mathematics and the connection between comprehension of the text of word problems and the success of their solution. In the introduction the research is set into the framework of theoretical bases: the term word problem in mathematics and the concept of reading comprehension, including factors influencing the understanding of the text are characterized and the results of previous research studies are described. Subsequently the work presents a methodology, course and results of testing of pupils in three pilot studies and in the main survey and the conclusions from the semi-structured interviews. The research is based on the linguistic analysis of 18 word problems with low solution success, taken from international research surveys PISA 2012 and TIMSS 2007, as well as on the level of comprehension of the text of these tasks in the 8th and 9th grade primary schools, modifying selected language phenomena and detecting the effect of these reformulations. 773 pupils from 13 elementary schools participated in the research. The study..