Students’ perception of letters as specific unknown and variable: The Case of Iran

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess student’s understanding of variable concept. In respect to the
changes of math curriculum in Iran, especially way that variable was introduced in the new textbook,
it is necessary to assess students’ understanding of variable involving these new approaches. The
present study followed an explanatory sequential mixed method design. The subjects of the study
were 7th, 8th and 9th grade students living in different area of Tehran city. Data was collected from a
written test and semi structured interviews. Our sample was 400 students. Interviews conducted with
15out of them. By analysing data and textbook based on Kuchemann’(1981) and Sfard’s(1991)
theories, students with such training were not recognizing the role of variable in different situation
and often see it as specific unknown. They also made mistakes for simplifying of algebraic expression
and they tried to get solution by joining of numbers and letters.