Abstract

• The main aim of this study is to examine the numerical reasoning ability of middle school students in Sintgu Township, Mandalay Region. Then, the differences in numerical reasoning ability by gender, by locality and by age were investigated. Moreover, the relationship between the students’ numerical reasoning ability and their mathematics achievement were also investigated. A total of 615 Grade 9 students (275 males and 340 females) from six schools which consist of three high schools, one high school (branch), one middle school and one middle school (branch) were selected as the participants for the study. The quantitative research design and the descriptive survey method were used. Numerical reasoning ability test (40 items) was developed to measure students’ numerical reasoning ability as an instrument for this study. The p-value and discrimination index of the 40 items were within the acceptable range of 0.20 to 0.90 and equal to (or) greater than 0.30 respectively. In the analysis of data, descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, one way ANOVA and correlation technique were used in this study. According to the result of findings, middle school students were not so good but satisfactory in the numerical reasoning ability. Moreover, t-test results confirmed that male students had slightly higher numerical reasoning ability than female students and urban school students’ numerical reasoning ability was greater than the rural schools students’. One way ANOVA results showed that the more the younger students, the more the higher numerical reasoning ability. According to correlation analysis, students’ numerical reasoning abilities were found to be significantly and positively correlated with their mathematics achievement (r=.515, p<.01). Therefore, research findings suggested that students’ numerical reasoning abilities should be enriched by using various strategies as the numerical reasoning could influence their mathematics achievement.