Effect of realistic mathematics education in teaching fractions to the third grade primary school students on achievement, retention and attitude

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of Realistic Mathematics Education in teaching fractions to the third grade primary school students on achievement, retention and attitude. Population of the research is composed of totally 85 students studying at Çimento Çaydurt Primary School and Karaköy TOKİ Primary School in Bolu in the academic year of 2012-2013. Data related with the students' academic achievement towards the topic of fractions have been collected by 'Fractions Achievement Test'. Data related with attitudes towards Mathematics have been collected by 'Mathematics Attitudes Scale'; whereas the data related with retention of mathematics achievement have been collected by 'Retention Test'. Confirmatory Factor Analyses, analyses of covariances (ANCOVAs) and analyses of covariances for recurrent measurements were conducted in order to answer the research questions prepared in accordance with the aim of the research appropriately. It was determined at the end of the research that the students' mean scores in achievement post-test in experimental group in which Realistic Mathematics Education was used were significantly higher than the students' mean scores in achievement posttest in controlled group in which available program was used. It was similarly determined that that the students' mean scores in attitude post-test in experimental group were significantly higher than the students' mean scores in attitude post-test in controlled group. However, it was also determined that the difference between the students' mean scores in achievement post-test and in retention test was not significant in experimental group whereas there is a significant difference between the students' mean scores in achievement post-test and in retention test. On the other hand, it was resulted that there are no differences in students' attitude post-test mean scores and retention test mean scores both in experimental group and in controlled group. Educational implications and suggestions for the future research have also been discussed in the current study. Keywords: Realistic Mathematics Education, Fractions, Attitude, Achievement, Retention