Original Research
An error analysis in the early grades mathematics – a learning opportunity?
Submitted: 12 May 2014 | Published: 01 July 2014
About the author(s)
Roelien Herholdt, JET Education Services, South AfricaIngrid Sapire, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa
Full Text:
PDF (358KB)Abstract
Error analysis is the study of errors in learners’ work with a view to looking for possible explanations for these errors. It is a multifaceted activity involving analysis of correct, partially correct and incorrect processes and thinking about possible remediating strategies. This paper reports on such an analysis of learner tests. The tests were administered as part of the evaluation of an intervention project that aimed to teach mathematical problem solving skills to grade 1-4 learners. Quantitative error analysis was carried out using a coding sheet for each grade. A reliability coefficient was found for each test, as were item means and discrimination indexes for each item. The analysis provided some insight into the more common procedural and conceptual errors evidenced in the learners’ scripts. Findings showed similar difficulties across intervention and control schools and highlighted particular areas of difficulty. The authors argue that this analysis is an example of large-scale error analysis, but that the analysis method could be adopted by teachers of grades 1-4.
Keywords
Metrics
Total abstract views: 7215Total article views: 2282
Crossref Citations
1. Achievement Error Differences of Students With Reading Versus Math Disorders
Maria Avitia, Emily DeBiase, Matthew Pagirsky, Melissa M. Root, Meiko Howell, Xingyu Pan, Tawnya Knupp, Xiaochen Liu
Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment vol: 35 issue: 1-2 first page: 111 year: 2017
doi: 10.1177/0734282916669209
2. An analysis of students’ error in completing the contextual problems based on Newman’s procedure
L W Kristianti, H Retnawati
Journal of Physics: Conference Series vol: 1511 issue: 1 first page: 012036 year: 2020
doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/1511/1/012036
3. Grade 3 to 6 Learners’ Misconceptions and Associated Errors Related to the Learning of Place-Value: A Document Analysis
Kgalushi M Themane, Kakoma Luneta
Journal of Educational Studies vol: 23 issue: 1 first page: 115 year: 2024
doi: 10.59915/jes.2024.23.1.6
4. Approaches to the typology of the common mistakes of younger schoolchildren in the development of mathematical concepts
S.P. Sanina, V.L. Sokolov
Journal of Modern Foreign Psychology vol: 10 issue: 4 first page: 138 year: 2021
doi: 10.17759/jmfp.2021100413
5. Analysis of Students' Errors on the Fraction Calculation Operations Problem
Wirda Safriani, Said Munzir, M Duskri, Ikhsan Maulidi
Al-Jabar : Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika vol: 10 issue: 2 first page: 307 year: 2019
doi: 10.24042/ajpm.v10i2.5224
6. Analysis of Mathematical Errors Committed by Grade Six Children with Mathematics Difficulties: Implications for Classroom Instruction
Seleshi Zeleke Teketel
Journal of Research in Didactical Sciences vol: 1 issue: 1 first page: 12500 year: 2022
doi: 10.51853/jorids/12500
7. Identifying and Correcting Students’ Misconceptions in Defining Angle and Triangle
Kusno Kusno, Sutarto Sutarto
European Journal of Educational Research vol: volume-11-2022 issue: volume-11-issue-3-july-2022 first page: 1797 year: 2022
doi: 10.12973/eu-jer.11.3.1797
8. Mitigating errors and misconceptions among Grade 11 learners in algebra through error analysis
Zakaria Ndemo, Osten Ndemo
African Journal of Teacher Education and Development vol: 2 issue: 1 year: 2023
doi: 10.4102/ajoted.v2i1.11
9. Uncovering student errors in measures of dispersion: An APOS theory analysis in high school statistics education
Chiew Leng Ng, Cheng Meng Chew
European Journal of Science and Mathematics Education vol: 11 issue: 4 first page: 599 year: 2023
doi: 10.30935/scimath/13260
10. UNCOVERING UNDERGRADUATE PHYSICS PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS’ ERRORS IN ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTION AND ELECTROMAGNETIC EFFECTS
Sakyiwaa Boateng, Sizwe C. J. Masuku
Journal of Baltic Science Education vol: 24 issue: 2 first page: 221 year: 2025
doi: 10.33225/jbse/25.24.221
11. An analysis of errors for pre-service teachers in first order ordinary differential equations
Chipo Makamure, Zingiswa M. Jojo
Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education vol: 18 issue: 6 first page: em2117 year: 2022
doi: 10.29333/ejmste/12074
12. The Use of GeoGebra in Enhancing Grade 10 Learners' Understanding of Probability
Innocent Moyo, Judah P Makonye
Journal of Educational Studies vol: 23 issue: 1 first page: 172 year: 2024
doi: 10.59915/jes.2024.1.9
13. An Analysis of Students’ Error in Learning Mathematical Problem Solving; the Perspective of David Kolb’s Theory
Widodo WİNARSO, Toheri TOHERİ
Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education (TURCOMAT) year: 2021
doi: 10.16949/turkbilmat.753899
14. Mathematical Argumentation Ability: Error Analysis in Solving Mathematical Arguments
Nonik INDRAWATİNİNGSİH, Purwanto -, Abdur AS'ARİ, Cholis SA'DİJAH
Journal for the Education of Gifted Young Scientists vol: 8 issue: 2 first page: 711 year: 2020
doi: 10.17478/jegys.654460
15. Error analysis of students with mathematics learning difficulties in Tibet
Lei Rong, Riikka Mononen
Asian Journal for Mathematics Education vol: 1 issue: 1 first page: 52 year: 2022
doi: 10.1177/27527263221089357
16. Language difficulty as a factor related to learner errors in financial mathematics
Xolani Khalo, Emmanuel Olusola Adu, Babawande Emmanuel Olawale
Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education vol: 18 issue: 10 first page: em2156 year: 2022
doi: 10.29333/ejmste/12407
17. Okul Öncesi Dönem Çocukların Matematiksel Kavramlara İlişkin Hatalarının Öğretmen Görüşleri Açısından İncelenmesi
Ömer ŞAHİN, Halil İbrahim KORKMAZ
Anemon Muş Alparslan Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi vol: 7 first page: 171 year: 2019
doi: 10.18506/anemon.523567
18. Learners’ errors in secondary algebra: Insights from tracking a cohort from Grade 9 to Grade 11 on a diagnostic algebra test
Craig Pournara, Jeremy Hodgen, Yvonne Sanders, Jill Adler
Pythagoras vol: 37 issue: 1 year: 2016
doi: 10.4102/pythagoras.v37i1.334
19. The impact of mathematics learning environment supported by error-analysis activities on classroom interaction
Amal Abdallah Khasawneh, Ali Ahmad Al-Barakat, Soliman Abedallteef Almahmoud
Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education vol: 19 issue: 2 first page: em2227 year: 2023
doi: 10.29333/ejmste/12951
20. Exploring the role of computer-based assessment in diagnosing children’s mathematical errors in primary education in Ireland
Damian Murchan, Elizabeth Oldham
Irish Educational Studies vol: 36 issue: 4 first page: 489 year: 2017
doi: 10.1080/03323315.2017.1393765
21. The effect of a Schema-based method on correcting persistent errors in mental arithmetic: an experimental study
Shufang Chen, Dawei Liu, Huifen Yan, Yong Ma
Frontiers in Psychology vol: 15 year: 2024
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1276914
22. An Analysis of Students’ Error in Solving Abstract Algebra Tasks
N Agustyaningrum, A M Abadi, R N Sari, A Mahmudi
Journal of Physics: Conference Series vol: 1097 first page: 012118 year: 2018
doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/1097/1/012118
23. Error Identification in Problem Solving on Multivariable Calculus
Reni Untarti, Anggun Badu Kusuma
Journal of Physics: Conference Series vol: 1188 first page: 012064 year: 2019
doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/1188/1/012064
24. Early numeracy skills in children with intellectual disabilities between age groups 4–7 years: developmental patterns and interrelationships
Garyfalia Charitaki, Spyridon-Georgios Soulis, Anastasia Alevriadou
International Journal of Developmental Disabilities vol: 71 issue: 2 first page: 306 year: 2025
doi: 10.1080/20473869.2023.2232555
25. Visibility and differentiation: systemic testing in a developing country context
Ursula Hoadley, Johan Muller
The Curriculum Journal vol: 27 issue: 2 first page: 272 year: 2016
doi: 10.1080/09585176.2015.1129982
26. Exploring Grade 8 Students’ Errors When Learning About the Surface Area of Prisms
Shakespear Maliketi Chiphambo, Nomxolisi Mtsi
Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education vol: 17 issue: 8 first page: em1985 year: 2021
doi: 10.29333/ejmste/10994
27. Evaluation of Engineering students' translation skills in Newton's laws of motion using Newman's error analysis
Felicia Katerina Pasno, Floyd Rey Plando
Multidisciplinary Science Journal vol: 7 issue: 11 first page: e2025542 year: 2025
doi: 10.31893/multiscience.2025542
28. Error analysis in solving prism and pyramid problems
A N Hasanah, K Yulianti
Journal of Physics: Conference Series vol: 1521 issue: 3 first page: 032035 year: 2020
doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/1521/3/032035
29. Patterns of Strengths and Weaknesses on the WISC-V, DAS-II, and KABC-II and Their Relationship to Students’ Errors in Oral Language, Reading, Writing, Spelling, and Math
Kristina C. Breaux, Maria Avitia, Taylor Koriakin, Melissa A. Bray, Emily DeBiase, Troy Courville, Xingyu Pan, Thomas Witholt, Sandy Grossman
Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment vol: 35 issue: 1-2 first page: 168 year: 2017
doi: 10.1177/0734282916669657