To help the reader understand the scope and diversity of the Wisconsin R & D Center's research effort in mathematics, four perspectives are presented: (1) the Center's approach to research, development, and practice; (2) the origins of the current research effort; (3) a description of current research; and (4) a projection for future research. (JP)

Described is a method to assist developers of mathematics programs to make formative evaluations. The method involves periodic achievement testing via item sampling. Details of item construction, periodic testing, and profile construction are given in a discussion of how this method was applied to modify a sixth-grade mathematics program. (JP)

Examined is the discrepancy between the initial press release of the IEA International Study of Mathematics Achievement and the full report. (CT)

Discussed are the processes of educational development and research and their application to the construction of a mathematics curriculum. Specifically four types of curriculum development and eleven forms of curriculum research are examined. (CT)

This is one of a series of reports on the National Longitudinal Study of Mathematical Abilities (NLSMA). This report describes the processes used for deciding what should be measured, when, and how. Work of the SMSG Panel on Tests for collecting tests items, conceptualizing scales, pilot testing, and analyzing pilot test data is reviewed. The…

This is one of a series of reports on the National Longitudinal Study of Mathematical Abilities (NLSMA). Further, it is of the subseries that analyzed data for the purpose of identifying differential patterns of mathematics achievement which are correlated with different textbook series. This particular report considers comparisons made for the…

Self-instructional booklets containing the advance organizer, cognitive set, and post organizer varying according to experimental treatment were randomly assigned within nine Algebra 2 classes. Results showed a significant interaction between advance and post organizers: either one used separately facilitated learning and retention, but when used…

Development of a second-grade mathematics instructional unit is discussed in terms of activities, evaluation procedures, and results of evaluation. The report is organized by topic. Behavioral objectives are followed by descriptions of activities and materials used. Topics include: review of symbols, pictorial representation of numbers, writing…

An exploratory study involving three days of brief instruction in a process-by-attribute approach. Significant performance gains were recorded. (MM)

This paper summarizes the developmental activities in mathematics conducted at the first grade level. Two instructional units of "Developing Mathematical Processes" were taught. The instructional units are described through a description of the activities that were tried, an explanation of evaluation procedures, and a report of the results of each…

Tests were given after instruction in probability and four weeks later to 25 sixth graders. Correlation between achievement scores for each student was .78. Retention ratios for individuals, total tests, each objective, and each item indicated high initial performance may contribute to high retention. (Author/DT)

Presented is the task analysis for "Developing Mathematical Processes, Arithmetic, Book 1: Comparing and Equalizing Objects and Sets." This task analysis consists of identifying the behavioral objectives necessary for comparing and equalizing objects and sets and arranging them in a logical sequence for instruction. The 52 items in this task…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a process model could be constructed using steps identified from flow charts which accounted for somewhat more variance in predicting the difficulty of two-digit multiplication problems than did a process model developed by Cromer. Cromer's data and variables were used as a starting point. Ten new…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a process model could be constructed using steps identified from flow charts which accounted for somewhat more variance in predicting the difficulty of two-digit multiplication problems than did a process model developed by Cromer. Cromer's data and variables were used as a starting point. Ten new…

Thirty concepts from the areas of sets, division, and expressing relationships were studied with twelve tasks dealing with naming or selecting attributes or concepts involved. A factor analysis indicated that all concepts were measures of a single functional relationship and that all tasks measure a single underlying trait. (LS)