Setting Effects in Mathematical Reasoning of Early Adolescents: Findings from Three Urban Schools

Three mathematical reasoning tasks (proportions, reasoning with an unknown, and a spatial reasoning task), and an attitude interview were individually administered to 260 8th grade students from three predominately minority urban schools. The three schools and neighborhoods varied in educational advantages as well as in socioeconomic characteristics. An additional 60 students, from a middle class and predominately white school in which a similar...