Degree Name

Education Specialist (EdS)

Semester of Degree Completion

1988

Thesis Director

Gary A. Blade

Abstract

This field experience investigated the effects of ability grouping mathematics students at the Argenta-Oreana Middle School in Oreana, Illinois. This study investigated the perceptions of teacher attitudes toward abilty grouping mathematics students, the effects ability grouping has had on grades assigned to eighth grade students and the effects ability grouping has had on eighth grade student achievement test scores. A two tailed t-test for the difference of means at the .05 level of significance was used to analyze the data collected. The perception survey information collected from 11 teachers determined that no statistically significant differences existed between the perceptions of the mathematics teachers and the other teachers. An analysis of student grades determined that a statistically significant increase in student grades was found in 8 of the 9 comparisons made. Results of this study indicate that ability grouping middle school mathematics students has had no statistically significant effects on student achievement as determined on norm referenced achievement tests.

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