Exploring a Male Middle School Student’s Understanding of the Concept of Function

Abstract

Function is central in mathematical learning. Therefore, understanding the concept of function is important for students to comprehend other broader mathematical concepts. This study aims to explore the understanding of the concept of function of a male student, with a moderate mathematical ability, using a qualitative approach. To obtain such a student, the researchers grouped students by gender using a questionnaire adopted from The BEM Sex Role Inventory (BSRI). Each student answered the questionnaire five times to ensure data consistency. Once the appropriate student was selected, an interview was conducted in order to collect data. The interview involved questioning the student about the concept of function. The results show that there are unique findings in the category of summarizing, inferring, and comparing.