Howard, Fionnán ORCID: 0000-0003-0802-9783, Nic Mhuirí, Siún ORCID: 0000-0001-5008-5573 and O'Reilly, Maurice (2022) Using a narrative approach to study the transition to higher-level education. In: 9th CASTeL STEM Education Research Conferene (SMEC), 24 -25 June 2022, Dublin. ISBN 978-1-911669-41-8
Abstract
This paper presents the results of a longitudinal study into the mathematical identity of science and
engineering students (MISE) in Dublin City University. The goal of the research was to expand on
previous mathematical identity research in Ireland by including science and engineering students
since they study a significant amount of mathematics at university level.
Mathematical identity is considered to be one’s relationship with mathematics, including knowledge
of the subject and perception of oneself and others (Eaton & OReilly, 2009, p. 228). This qualitative
study was conducted over four years using a narrative approach to mathematical identity (Radovic,
Black, Williams & Salas, 2018, p. 29). The study involved 32 participants from science and
engineering courses in DCU, including several students of science education who have since
qualified as teachers. All participants completed an online open-ended questionnaire on
mathematical identity in their first year of university. A further five participants contributed to focus
groups and six participants took part in narrative interviews at the final stage of data collection. The
conclusions are derived from participants’ mathematical identity narratives which were developed
through several stages of data collection involving both thematic and narrative analysis.
The findings highlight several issues that affected multiple participants and may affect a broader
cohort of students than were included in the study. We also present some unique features of
mathematical identity that arose in this context as students transitioned to higher-level education.
Metadata
Item Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (Paper) |
---|---|
Event Type: | Conference |
Refereed: | Yes |
Subjects: | Social Sciences > Education Social Sciences > Teaching Mathematics |
DCU Faculties and Centres: | DCU Faculties and Schools > Institute of Education > School of STEM Education, Innovation, & Global Studies Research Institutes and Centres > Research Centre in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education (CASTel) |
Published in: | Proceedings of the 9th CASTeL STEM Education Research Conferene (SMEC). . Dublin City University. ISBN 978-1-911669-41-8 |
Publisher: | Dublin City University |
Official URL: | https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6953622 |
Copyright Information: | © 2022 The Authors Open Access (CC-BY 4.0) |
ID Code: | 27769 |
Deposited On: | 22 Sep 2022 12:41 by Thomas Murtagh . Last Modified 22 Sep 2022 12:41 |
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