ndation for placing confidence in the fact that positive findings observed for elementary school students will generalize to middle school students.
Clearly, what is needed is an empirical study of the effectiveness of manipulatives on middle school students. The proposed research constitutes such a study. Specifically, the research problem proposed for investigation is that of determining the effectiveness of selected manipulatives of the basic math performance of below average eighth grade students.
The proposed research is significant as an expansion of the existing research. In this regard, Kim (1993) has noted that there has been a good deal of research conducted on the effectiveness of manipulatives indicating that the methodology enhances mathematics learning through facilitating the student's transition from concrete to abstract levels of thought.
However, much of the research conducted on manipulatives has utilized samples of elementary level students (Ohanian, 1992). Therefore, this study of the use of manipulatives with middle school children will contribute to the existing database by exploring whether findings generalize to older student groups.
The study also has practical significance. If findings are significant, middle school teachers could utilize the manipulatives, methods and developed program in their eighth grade classrooms. Moreover, if subject variables are found to be interrelated to the efficacy of the developed program, this information would help eighth grade teachers to identify those students who are most likely to benefit from the developed program as well as those most likely to have difficulties with the program. Steps could then be taken to help those at-risk for program failure.
While there has not been a great deal of research on middle school level children and the efficacy of manipulatives for math learning, one excellent publication involving math learning and manipu...