Mathematical Difficulties and Diagnostic test

Misconception and mathematical difficulties

Newman Error Analysis
Newman Error Analysis
reading
comprehension
transformation skills
process Skills
encode
carelessness
motivation

Reading
Comprehension

Careless
mistakes

Transformation
Process skills
Encoding

Motivation

Newman developed a diagnostic ,method using interview as an

instrument to identify the categories of initial errors that happen
when solving word problems. Briefly, this diagnostic method
involves the following steps :
1. Students take a test on solving word problems
2. Teacher marks students answers
3. Teacher carries out a diagnostic interview with each at risk
student
4. Teacher analyses the interview results
5. Teacher draws up and interprets a diagnostic profile for each at
risk student.

According to Newman 1983 ), students can make errors in

any of these five stages when solving a word problem.
Many studies have been carried out to investigate these
errors.

Exercise 1
For each error given below, determine the type of error that
has occurred.
1. In a question, student interprets remainder as divide.
2. A student solves the algorithm as follows :
13 x 2.5 = 330.0
3. Answer to one word problem solving question as given by
a student : Total weight of Ali = 60.0g
4. During the last test, Ah Chong has given the wrong
solution for a certain question but he can solve it correctly
the second time during interview session. He tells the
interviewer that he is shock because until the interview
session he did not ask for help from any party to correct
his mistake.

5. During an interview session to identified error level, Gobi is

not successful in saying the word trapezium.
6. Ranjit interprets at least RM2 as minus RM2.