Secondary students' performance in different fraction subconstructs

Abstract

Kieren (1976) proposed that fractions can be classified in five different but interconnected subconstructs: part-to-whole comparisons, measures, operators, quotients and ratios. The meaning of these five subconstructs is the focus of the Review of Literature. A test based on these subconstructs was constructed and administered among secondary school students in Forms III and IV. The students' responses to all test items were critically analyzed through an item analysis process to determine students' difficulties in the different subconstructs. This study shows that even at Form III and IV, many students encounter difficulties when working problems involving fractions. Moreover, this study shows that students find the part-to-whole subconstruct the easiest, while the measure and operator subconstructs the hardest.