ANALYSING LONGITUDINAL DATA ON STUDENTS' DECIMAL UNDERSTANDING USING RELATIVE RISK AND ODDS RATIOS

摘要: The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the use statistics relative risk and odds ratios in mathematics education. These are widely used other fields (especially medical research) offer a useful but currently under-utilised alternative for demonstration uses data from longitudinal study students’ understanding decimal notation. We investigate statistical significance results related persistence misconceptions hierarchy between misconceptions. Relative ratio techniques provide confidence intervals, which give measure effect size missing simple hypothesis testing, enable differences phenomena be assessed reported with impact. This demonstrates some possibilities analysing educational data, draw upon methods that reporting medical, environmental epidemiological research. believe these measures very testing will enhance education Capraro (2004) draws attention important recent policy changes within American Psychological Association, evident their publication manual, stress importance researchers supplementing many journals making them mandatory. For those worried about deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after long flights, BUPA’s website (Newcombe, 2003) cites Farrol Kahn as saying “Several studies have shown [wearing flight socks] benefit it reduces by up 90 per cent.” However, we can cheered “The discovered developing DVT long-haul seemed low - at 1 cent all passengers.” Some us further comforted observation Runners’ World (Reynolds) “Being athletic accounts ten times more victims than any factor.” reports popular press, along research literature, mostly describing terms rather absolute risk. So, example, instead commenting developed only 0.10% (10% 1%) passengers wearing socks, reduced 90%. puts what might seen tiny reduction (just 90% into perspective shows its importance. In paper, show how ideas applied discuss benefits issues arising. illustrate challenges reanalyses on