Cross-cultural Study of Understanding of Scale and Measurement: Does the everyday use of US customary units disadvantage US students?

References

• American Association for the Advancement of Science . 1993 . Benchmarks for science literacy , New York , NY : Oxford University Press .
   Google Scholar
• Anderhag , P. , Emanuelsson , P. , Wickman , P.-O. and Hamza , K. M. in press . Students’ choice of post-compulsory science: In search of schools that compensate for the socio-economic background of their students . International Journal of Science Education , doi:10.1080/09500693.2012.696738
   Google Scholar
• Anderson , L. W. and Krathwohl , D. R. 2001 . A taxonomy for learning, teaching, and assessing: A revision of Bloom's taxonomy of educational objectives (complete ed.) , New York , NY : Longman .
   Google Scholar
• Barry, P. L. (2007). Metric moon. NASA Science: Science News. Retrieved from http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2007/08jan_metricmoon/
   Google Scholar
• Brook , A. , Briggs , H. and Driver , R. 1984 . Aspects of secondary students’ understanding of the particulate nature of matter , Leeds : University of Leeds and Children's Learning in Science Project .
   Google Scholar
• Buccheri , G. , Gürber , N. A. and Brühwiler , C. 2011 . The impact of gender on interest in science topics and the choice of scientific and technical vocations . International Journal of Science Education , 33 ( 1 ) : 159 – 178 . doi:10.1080/09500693.2010.518643
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Central Intelligence Agency. (2012). The World Factbook. Retrieved November 9, 2012, from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
   Google Scholar
• College Board . 2009 . Science College Board Standards for College Success , New York , NY : Author .
   Google Scholar
• Confrey , J. 1991 . “ Learning to listen: A student's understanding of powers of ten ” . In Radical constructivism in mathematics education , Edited by: von Glaserfeld , E. 111 – 138 . Dordrecht : Kluwer Academic .
   Google Scholar
• Delgado, C., Stevens, S., & Shin, N. (2008, April). Development of a learning progression for students' conceptions of size and scale. Paper presented at the International Conference of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST), Baltimore, MD.
   Google Scholar
• Delgado, C. (2009). Development of a research-based learning progression for middle school through undergraduate students' conceptual understanding of size and scale (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
   Google Scholar
• Delgado, C. (2010). Units of length: A notational system for conceptual understanding of size and scale. In K. Gomez, L. Lyons, & J. Radinsky (Eds.), Learning in the disciplines: Proceedings of the 9th International Conference of the Learning Sciences (ICLS) (Vol. 2, pp. 362–363). Chicago: International Society of the Learning Sciences. Retrieved from http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1854509.1854698
   Google Scholar
• Delgado, C., & Lucero, M. (2011, April). Why do students construct unconventional scales for graphs? Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Conference (AERA), New Orleans, LA.
   Google Scholar
• Gonzales , P. , Williams , T. , Jocelyn , L. , Roey , S. , Kastberg , D. and Brenwald , S. 2009 . Highlights from TIMSS 2007: Mathematics and science achievement of US fourth- and eighth-grade students in an international context , Washington , DC : National Center for Education Statistics . Retrieved from http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009001
   Google Scholar
• Griffiths , A. K. and Preston , K. R. 1992 . Grade-12 students’ misconceptions relating to fundamental characteristics of atoms and molecules . Journal of Research in Science Teaching , 29 ( 6 ) : 611 – 628 . doi:10.1002/tea.3660290609
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Hapkiewicz , A. 1999 . Naïve ideas in earth science . MSTA Journal , 44 ( 2 ) : 26 – 30 .
   Google Scholar
• Jones, M. G., Taylor, A. R., Minogue, J., Broadwell, B., Wiebe, E., & Carter, G. (2007). Understanding scale: Powers of ten. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 16(2), 191–202. doi:10.1007/s10956-006-9034-2
   Google Scholar
• Jones , M. G. , Gardner , G. E. , Taylor , A. R. , Forrester , J. H. and Andre , T. 2012 . Students’ accuracy of measurement estimation: Context, units, and logical thinking . School Science and Mathematics , 112 ( 3 ) : 171 – 178 . doi:10.1111/j.1949–8594.2011.00130.x
   Google Scholar
• Jones , M. G. , Paechter , M. , Yen , C.-F. , Gardner , G. , Taylor , A. and Tretter , T. in press . Teachers’ concepts of spatial scale: An international comparison . International Journal of Science Education , doi:10.1080/09500693.2011.610382
   Google Scholar
• Joram , E. , Subrahmanyam , K. and Gelman , R. 1998 . Measurement estimation: Learning to map the route from number to quantity and back . Review of Educational Research , 68 ( 4 ) : 413 – 449 . doi:10.3102/00346543068004413
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Kruger, L. G. (1997). Metric conversion and the federal role: An update (CRS report for Congress). Science Policy Research Division. Retrieved from http://congressionalresearch.com/95-875/document.php
   Google Scholar
• Lamon , S. 1994 . “ Ratio and proportion: Cognitive foundations in unitizing and norming ” . In The development of multiplicative reasoning in the learning of mathematics , Edited by: Harel , G. and Confrey , J. 89 – 122 . Albany : State University of New York Press .
   Google Scholar
• Lave , J. and Wenger , E. 1991 . Situated learning: Legitimate peripheral participation , New York , NY : Cambridge University Press .
   Google Scholar
• Lee , O. and Buxton , C. A. 2010 . Diversity and equity in science education: Research, policy, and practice , New York , NY : Teachers College Press .
   Google Scholar
• Leinhardt , G. , Zaslavsky , O. and Stein , M. K. 1990 . Functions, graphs, and graphing: Tasks, learning, and teaching . Review of Educational Research , 60 ( 1 ) : 1 – 64 . (doi:10.3102/00346543060001001)
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Swarat, S., Light, G., Park, E. J., & Drane, D. (2011). A typology of undergraduate students' conceptions of size and scale: Identifying and characterizing conceptual variation. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 48(5), 512–533. doi:10.1002/tea.20403
   Google Scholar
• Lloyd, R. (1999, September 30). Metric mishap caused loss of NASA orbiter. CNN.com. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/9909/30/mars.metric.02/
   Google Scholar
• Miller , K. F. and Stigler , J. W. 1987 . Counting in Chinese: Cultural variation in a basic cognitive skill . Cognitive Development , 2 ( 3 ) : 279 – 305 . doi:10.1016/S0885-2014(87)90091-8
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Mullis , I. , Martin , M. , Gonzalez , E. and Chrostowski , S. 2004 . TIMSS 2003 International Mathematics Report: Findings from IEA's trends in international mathematics and science study at the fourth and eighth grades , Chestnut Hill , MA : Boston College .
   Google Scholar
• National Center for Education Statistics . 1996 . Pursuing excellence: A study of US eighth-grade mathematics and science teaching, learning, curriculum, and achievement in international context: Initial findings from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (1995) , Washington , DC : Author .
   Google Scholar
• National Research Council . 1996 . National science education standards: Observe, interact, change, learn , Washington , DC : National Academies Press .
   Google Scholar
• National Research Council. (2009). Developmental variation, sociocultural influences, and difficulties in mathematics, Chapter 4. In C.T. Cross, T. A. Woods, & H. A. Schweingruber (Eds.), Mathematics learning in early childhood: Paths toward excellence and equity (pp. 95–120). Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
   Google Scholar
• National Research Council . 2009 . Mathematics learning in early childhood: Paths toward excellence and equity , Edited by: Cross , C. T. , Woods , T. A. and Schweingruber , H. A. Washington , DC : The National Academies Press .
   Google Scholar
• National Research Council . 2012 . A framework for K-12 science education: Practices, crosscutting concepts, and core ideas , Washington , DC : National Academies Press .
   Google Scholar
• O'Connell , A. A. 2006 . Logistic regression models for ordinal response variables , Thousand Oaks , CA : Sage Publications .
   Google Scholar
• Pea , R. D. 1988 . “ Practices of distributed intelligence and designs for education ” . In Distributed cognitions: Psychological and educational considerations , Edited by: Salomon , G. 47 – 87 . Cambridge : Cambridge University Press .
   Google Scholar
• Phillips , W. C. 1991 . Earth science misconceptions . The Science Teacher , 58 ( 2 ) : 21 – 23 .
   Google Scholar
• Pope, J. (2012, September 24). SAT scores edge down; ACT now more popular exam. Yahoo! News. Retrieved January 24, 2013, from http://news.yahoo.com/sat-scores-edge-down-act-now-more-popular-150110664.html
   Google Scholar
• Swan , M. and Jones , O. 1971 . Distance, weight, height, area and temperature percepts of university students . Science Education , 55 ( 3 ) : 353 – 360 . doi:10.1002/sce.3730550315
   Google Scholar
• Swan , M. and Jones , O. E. 1980 . Comparison of students’ percepts of distance, weight, height, area, and temperature . Science Education , 64 ( 3 ) : 297 – 307 . doi:10.1002/sce.3730640305
   Google Scholar
• Tretter , T. R. , Jones , M. G. , Andre , T. , Negishi , A. and Minogue , J. 2006 . Conceptual boundaries and distances: Students’ and experts’ concepts of the scale of scientific phenomena . Journal of Research in Science Teaching , 43 ( 3 ) : 282 – 319 . doi:10.1002/tea.20123
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• US Metric Association. (2006). Origin of the metric system. Retrieved November 14, 2012, from http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hillger/origin.html
   Google Scholar
• US Metric Association. (2012). Metric usage and metrication in other countries. Retrieved January 25, 2013, from http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hillger/international.html
   Google Scholar
• Vasilyeva , M. , Ludlow , L. H. , Casey , B. M. and Onge , C. S. 2009 . Examination of the psychometric properties of the measurement skills assessment . Educational and Psychological Measurement , 69 ( 1 ) : 106 – 130 . doi:10.1177/0013164408318774
   Web of Science ®Google Scholar
• Vygotsky , L. S. 1978 . Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes , Cambridge , MA : Harvard University Press .
   Google Scholar
• Wang , J. and Lin , E. 2005 . Comparative studies on US and Chinese mathematics learning and the implications for standards-based mathematics teaching reform . Educational Researcher , 34 ( 5 ) : 3 – 13 . (doi:10.3102/0013189X034005003)
   Google Scholar