The Impact of use of manipulates on the math scores of grade 2 students

This research report “The Impact of Use of manipulates on the math scores of grade 2 students†Liggett (2017) published in the Brock Education Journal is a quantitative research report. According to Leavy (2017), “quantitative research is characterised by deductive approaches to the research process aimed at proving, disproving, or lending credence to existing theories. This type of research involves measuring variables and testing relationships between variables to reveal patterns, correlations, or causal relationships. Researchers may employ linear methods of data collection and analysis that result in statistical data†p.9. Thus, the author of this journal under study (Liggett, 2017) adopted an experimental research design (which is deductive) to prove the hypothetical idea that “the use of manipulates can improve upon Grade 2 students’ mathematics scores†. (p.6). This study represented a true experimental design because of three factors namely manipulation, control, and randomization (Creswell, 2009). As such, the researcher used random selection to establish the treatment group and control school who are all Grade 2 students in a school in Northern Saskatchewan. He subjected the two groups to series of tests before and after his intervention (experiment) which saw the treatment group using mathematical manipulatives (plastic unifix cubes) for a specific period and the control group being denied the use of those manipulatives in Mathematics lessons.