A systematic review of experimental researches on the learning fields of numbers and operations in middle schools: The case of Turkey

Abstract

The numbers and operations learning field in the mathematics curriculum is very important regarding the number of gains and course hours. In this review, experimental studies related to the sub-learning fields of the number and operations learning field were reviewed according to methodological characteristics and Turkey's demographic. 90 theses and 23 articles published between the years 2006-2021 were reviewed through a systematic literature review. "Fractions" was the most investigated sub-learning field both in theses and articles. Regarding dependent variables, academic achievement and attitude towards mathematics were the most studied variables in both theses and articles. All sub-learning fields of the number and operations learning field, which occupy an important place in the secondary school mathematics curriculum, were reviewed. Different aspects of the most and least studied learning fields were discussed. The results are expected to shed light on the academicians researching the secondary school mathematics curriculum. It is suggested that the researchers should focus on less-studied subjects of the 8th-grade curriculum and fill the areas deemed incomplete.